Minorities continue to lead dismal life in Pak - The Observer (New Delhi)

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Most member of the minority communities, especially Hindus, in
the Islamic state of Pakistan continue to lead a dismal life as
they are denied basic rights and face constant persecution by the
administration.

Slums in the Sindh province of Pakistan are home to some 1.5
million Hindus, the families of these people had stayed back in
Pakistan after the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947.

An important factor influencing their decision was the father of
the nation, mohammed ali jinnahs promise that all religions will
be treated equally in Pakistan.

In his first address to the nation, Jinnah had proclaimed, ou
may belong to any caste or creed... this has nothing to do with
the business of the state. We are starting with the fundamental
principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of a
state."

But in the fifty years after the promise, equality remains a
distant dream. Whatever rights were provided to these minorities
in the Pakistan constitution were taken away by the Zia-Ul-Haq
regime in 1973 through major amendments.

Imran Aslam, editor of a large circulated daily The News, admits
discrimination against minorities. "you have got to go back and
see the basis of Pakistan. I think once the constitution
established that this is going to be an Islamic republic of
Pakistan, obviously the tilt is going to he in favour of
muslims," Aslam says.

"There are certain discriminatory laws which are enshrined in the
constitution in favour of the Muslims. For instance, the
president of Pakistan has to be a Muslim."

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