Religious Minorities of Pakistan:

Report of a Parliamentary visit 27 September 2018 – 3 October 2018

Authors:

• Professor Javaid Rehman, FRSA, FAcSS, Professor of Law, Brunel University, London
• Councillor Morris Johns, All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Pakistani Minorities
• Amro Hussain, All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief

Full report

Intro and Executive Summary

In order to understand, engage with and explore FoRB issues in Pakistan, a British Parliamentary delegation visited Pakistan between 28 September 2018 – 3 October 2018. The delegation consisted of Professor Lord David Alton of Liverpool KCSG, Jim Shannon MP and Marie E Rimmer CBE MP, Professor Javaid Rehman, FRSA, FAcSS, Professor of International Human Rights Law and Muslim Constitutionalism, Brunel University, London, Councillor Morris Johns, Secretary to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Pakistani Minorities, and Amro Hussain, Director of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief.

This was an exploratory mission, which allowed the delegation to engage with various government officials, NGOs and members of religious communities of Pakistan in order to discern the human rights and minority rights situation of the country. Members also
met with representatives of various minority rights organisations and had the opportunity to visit residences of Christian communities including slum residences within Islamabad.

In their investigation and during the mission the delegation found the following issues of concern:

1. Absence of National Commission for Minorities
2. Difficulties in Reforming Blasphemy Laws and Misuse of Existing Laws
3. Non-Implementation of 5% Jobs Quota for Minorities
4. Discrimination in the Education System and Lack of Access to Advanced Education and Training
5. Minority Underrepresentation in Politics
6. Forced Conversions and Forced Marriages
7. Lack of Training for Law Enforcement Agencies
8. Children in Conflict with the Law and on Death Row
9. Criminal Justice Matters
10. Slums for Religious Minorities
11. Persecution of Ahmadis

In order to address the aforementioned concerns, this report makes a number of recommendations.