Theory and Practice of Constitutional and Legal Protections of Minorities: Christians in Pakistan

Abstract

The Christian community of Pakistan have to face adversaities with regards to the legal protection. Practically the Christian community has all the fundamental rights of a civilized nation under the protection of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973, judicial judgments, parliamentary debates and address of Quaid-e-Azam in the Constituent Assembly. People belonging to the Christian community, legitimately and legally has right to equality but in practice they are not gratified with their present status. They face political as well as socio-economic problems besides the religious problems. They consider themselves as second class citizens in all walks of life. This matter seems more religious than political and economic. Pakistan is declared as a religious state and keeps Muslims at the top of helm of the affairs. It is also worth noticing that in the administrative plus history of the country many Christian has been appointed on the seats of public policy making, judiciary, armed forces and the brass top positions but still the Christians are frustrated and discontent. This article is a deep study of the constitutional rights of minorities in theory and practice.