Ans: Role of the Non-Muslims in Pakistan:
Addressing the first session of the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan the
Quaid-e-Azam observed:
“You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to
your mosques or to any places of worship in the state of Pakistan. You
may belong to any religion or cast or creed that has nothing to do with
the business of the state.”
. This pronouncement of the Quaid affirms minorities rights as well as
indirectly reminds the non-Muslim citizens of their responsibilities as equal
citizens of Pakistan.
. According to democratic principle the character of a state is determined by
the majority will of its citizens: Since the Muslims form 97 percent of the
population of Pakistan our legal and political system should be based on
Islamic principles, but this does not imply that the non-Muslims will be
treated as second rate citizens of the state.
. The Quaid-e-Azam had already made it clear that no distinction will be made
on the basis of religion. In parliamentary democracy the Muslims and the
non-Muslims have equal citizenship rights. It must be acknowledged that the
role of non-Muslim minorities in Pakistan movement was no less important
than that of the Muslims.
. The non-Muslims knew that in a Muslim state their culture, language,
personal law, religious institutions and places of worship will be fully
protected. During the days of our freedom movement the untouchable
(achhoot) leader Dr. BR Ambedkar wrote excellent book to plead the
Muslims case for a separate homeland. He himself could not shift to
Pakistan but his able disciple Joginder Nath Mandal served as law minister
in Quaid-e-Azam’s first cabinet.
Pakistan’s first foreign minister Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan belonged to
a sect, which was later declared non-Muslim minority, In the early days of
. Pakistan victor Alfred Charles Tumer played vital role in setting up civil
services structure. He was also the first finance secretary of Pakistan. The
non-Muslim citizens started serving Pakistan with great patriotic spirit after
the creation of Pakistan. They served in the armed forces and the judiciary
on highest positions and set memorable examples of honesty and
professional responsibility.
. Group Capt. Cecil Chaudhry defended the country in 1965 and 1971 wars as
Pakistan Air Force officer and was decorated with Tamgha-e-Jurat and
Sitara-e-Jurat. Wing commander Mervyn Middlecoat fought bravely and laid
his life in 1971 Indo Pakistan war. J.W. Jafford (Naval Chief) have also
rendered great services for the defense of the motherland. Justice A.R
Cornelius did scholarly research on Islamic jurisprudence and dispelled the
misunderstanding of international scholars about Islamic law. Justice Rana
Bhagwan Das and Justice Dorab Patel are the pride of Pakistan’s judiciary.
. In short the non-Muslim citizens rendered great services for their
motherland, following are a few more examples: Aradeshir Cawas Ji
(journalist), Dr. Abdussalam (physicst, nobel laureate), Raja Tredev Roy
(minister), Jogindarnath Mandal (minister), J. Salik (minister) Shehbaz Bhatti
(minister), Sworan Singh (minister), Nancy Nasim (principle I.C.G.
Islamabad). Karan Singh (writer), Azam Meraj (writer), Anita Campher
(actress), Benjamin Sisters (singer), Iron Parveen (singer). F.E. Chaudhry
(painter), Chitra pritam (painter), Dr. Ruth Pfau (leprosy eradication activist).
Mrs. Calara Pasha (Principal Nursing College, Islamabad). Prominent
among the writers who were decorated with Tamgha-e-Imtiaz are Kanwal
Feroz and Nasreen Anjum Bhatti. There is an unending list of non-Muslim
heroes who earned honour for the motherland in different walks of life
especially trade and sports