Christians Are Second-class Citizens Of Islamic Republic Of Pakistan.

[CatholicWing]

I collect this all information by Pakistan Christian Post website: [url="http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com"]http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com[/url] And I request to all phatmasspher whom visit my this post please read complete post and promote this post to other forums and share with yours friends and family any one can write in newspaper too.

[b]The government of Pakistan always claims on national and international forums that Pakistani Christians are enjoying equal rights in Pakistan. Is it truth or media campaign to misled the international community? This is what we shall discuss now?
Before going through the steps of constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan which declare the Christians to be second class citizens, we wish to bring on record that economic and social situation of Christians is worst due to constitutional burdens. [/b]

Lets see the share of Christians in the administration of government:

There is no Christian secretary and Deputy secretary in Federal and Provincial governments.

· There is no Christian General in the armed Forces of Pakistan.

· There is no Christian Ambassador from Pakistan in any country of the World from Pakistan.

· There is no Christian Chairman in any government owned Corporation.

· There is no Christian director General in any Directorate of the government.

· There is no Christian Inspector General and Deputy Inspector general of Police in any Province of Pakistan.

· There is no Christian Senior superintendent of Police any district of Pakistan.

· There is no Christian Deputy commissioner in any District of Pakistan.

· There is no Christian Commissioner in any Divisional administration of Pakistan.

· There is no Christian Justice in Supreme Court of Pakistan.

· There is No Justice in any High Courts of Pakistan.

· There is no Christian Governor in any Province of Pakistan, which are appointed by the President of Pakistan.

· There is no Christian VC of any University of Pakistan.

By these records any one can access the situation of Christians participation in the government of Pakistan. It clarifies that Christians have 0% share in the government administration in Pakistan.

When we view the education opportunities for youth in Pakistan in professional colleges and universities of Pakistan. It's on Record that;



· There is admission quota for children of officers of Armed Forces.

· There is admission quota for children of Afghan Refugees.

· There is admission quota for children of Kashmir Refugees.

· There is admission Quota for children of Professors.

· There is admission Quota for Muslim children of Rural Areas.

· There is admission quota for the children of Businessmen with big donations.

· There is admission quota for Muslim children of Chief Ministers.

· There is admission quota for Muslim children of Governors.

· There is admission Quota for Muslim children of Prime Minister of Pakistan.

· There is admission quota for Muslim children of President of Pakistan.



The doors of Medical colleges, Engineering Colleges and higher studies in Universities have been closed for Christian Youth by the admission policies of the government of Pakistan. The Christians youth is directed to contest on merit admission only. If in this modern world when Christians youth is blocked by the administration and its difficult for one Christian youth to become Doctor and Engineer in Pakistan. How a community in such situation can be equal in economic and social fields.



Therefore 95% of Christians are forced to adopt the jobs of sanitary workers in Pakistan, which falls in lowest grade in Pay Scale of 4 in Pakistan when all the other pay scales jobs up to pay scale of 22 have the Muslims.



In 1985, when the Christian voters for the parliament introduced separate electorates to elect Christians representatives, the Christian's youth enjoyed the jobs up to pay scale grade 11, on the quota of Christian representatives and it seemed that Christian youth shall be able to achieve goal of progress and equality. This was not liked by the government policy makers, which never liked that this Christian recruited on quota may reach up to grade 22 pay scales in Pakistan which is known as key posts in the administrations.



The government of Pakistan then used their Christian tools to term the separate electorates as only root cause of turning Christian community as second-class citizens of Pakistan. The government persuaded these Christian elements to demand the joint elections in Pakistan for minorities. The demand of joint elections was campaigned by the Christian clergy with collaboration of Muslim rulers of Pakistan. The church leadership raised the demand of joint elections on international forum, which left impressions that separate elections are main issue to resolve the Christian equal status in Pakistan. As the international community was not fully aware of the terms of Separate elections and its benefits and media campaign compelled them to believe that only joint elections can bring Christians in mainstream of society in Pakistan.

Lets see, that what are facts and the constitutional expects which make the Christians and other religious minorities to be the second-class citizens of the Pakistan.



It's very important for the understanding of the international community that what is the fact behind the situation of the Christians in Pakistan? The clergy and the Christian tools of the government for their vested interests have never brought up the issue of article 41 of the constitution of Islamic republic of Pakistan, which put Christians in class second in society. It states that:



"[Chapter 1: The President] of [Part III: The Federation of Pakistan] PART III

The Federation of Pakistan

Chapter 1. THE PRESIDENT

41.

(1) There shall be a President of Pakistan who shall be the Head of State and shall represent the unity of the Republic.

(2) A person shall not be qualified for election as President unless he is a Muslim of not less than forty-five years of age and is qualified to be elected as member of the National Assembly".



According to government notifications, the majority of the population of Pakistan is Muslim, which is 95% of the total population. It means that any Christian or any non-Muslim cannot become the President of Pakistan by ballot but still the introduction of article 41 (2) is contrary to the equal status of the all citizens, living in the territory of Pakistan. This section of the constitution is first step to apartheid in the society of Pakistan.

In the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan which carries the 111 Schedule of the Constitution stating the Oath of the Offices of:



"Third Schedule.

Oaths of Office

· President

· Prime Minister

· Federal Minister or Minister of State

· Speaker of National Assembly or Chairman of Senate

· Deputy Speaker of National Assembly or Deputy Chairman Of Senate

· Member of National Assembly or Member of Senate

· Governor of Province

· Chief Minister or Provincial Minister

· Speaker of a Provincial Assembly

· Deputy Speaker of a Provincial Assembly

· Member of a Provincial Assembly

· Auditor-General of Pakistan

· Chief Justice of Pakistan or of a High Court or Judge of The Supreme Court or a

· High Court

· Chief Justice or Judge of The Federal Shariat Court

· Chief Election Commissioner

· Members Of The Armed Forces"

This Third Chapter in the article 42 reads as:



President

[Article 42]



(In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.)

I, ____________, do solemnly swear that I am a Muslim and believe in the Unity and Oneness of Almighty Allah, the Books of Allah, the Holy Quran being the last of them, the Prophet hood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the last of the Prophets and that there can be no Prophet after him, the Day of Judgment, and all the requirements and teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah:

That I will bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan:

That, as President of Pakistan, I will discharge my duties, and perform my functions, honestly, to the best of my ability, faithfully in accordance with the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the law, and always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well- being and prosperity of Pakistan:

That I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions:

That I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan:

That, in all circumstances, I will do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favor, affection or ill will:

And that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person any matter, which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as President of Pakistan, except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as President.

May Allah Almighty help and guide me (A'meen).



Moreover the Article 91 (4) reads also same oath for the Prime Minister of Pakistan too. All the key administrative posts and executive offices have to read the same oath which allows the Muslim adults to hold such offices nor any Christian or member of the other religious minority except Muslims. The oath of The prime minister of Pakistan also reads as under:





Prime Minister

[Article 91( 4)]



(In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.)

I, ____________, do swear solemnly that l am a Muslim and believe in the Unity and Oneness of Almighty Allah, the Books of Allah, the Holy Quran being the last of them, the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the last of the Prophets and that there can be no Prophet after him, the Day of Judgment, and all the requirements and teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah:

That I will bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan:

That, as Prime Minister of Pakistan, I will discharge my duties, and perform my functions, hon-estly, to the best of my ability, faithfully in accordance with the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the law, and always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well- being and prosperity of Pakistan:

That I will strive to preserve the Islamic Ideology which is the basis for the creation of Pakistan:

That I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions:

That I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan:

That, in all circumstances, I will do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favor, affection or ill- will:

And that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known.



There is Article 203 (D) about the Federal Shariat Court where non Muslim Advocates are bared to plead any case in this court and its parallel judicial system to the existing judiciary. The formation of Islamic ideology has damaged the personal laws of Christians in Pakistan. The adoption of Objective Resolution as preamble of constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan is big blow on the equal basic democratic rights of citizens of Pakistan.

Its in the best interests and integrity of Pakistan to establish the equality among the individuals of Pakistani society that elections of new legislative assembly may be announced for formation of new constitution which may be constitution of Peoples Republic of Pakistan Constitution instead of this constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan where are citizen may become equal irrespective of faith and religion.

We think that all Christian who have voice on international forums shall press upon demand of Peoples Republic Of Pakistan Constitution. Its also in the best interests of liberal Muslim groups to raise voice against the Islamic Republic of Pakistan constitution for equal rights of all the citizens as founder of Pakistan, Quaid E Azam never wished Pakistan to be only state for Muslims but homeland for inhabitants of all religions.

Please send us yours comments in the post.

Edited May 17, 2008 by CatholicWing

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='CatholicWing' post='1530991' date='May 16 2008, 10:18 PM']which declare the Christians to be second class citizens[/quote]

But of course. The Muslims wouldn't be good Muslims if they had it another other way, in keeping with the teachings of their holy Koran.

[mortify]

I wonder what some of our forum members who regularly defend Islam will make of this.

[Lil Red]

+J.M.J.+
CatholicWing, did you get the items I sent you?

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='mortify' post='1531075' date='May 16 2008, 11:58 PM']I wonder what some of our forum members who regularly defend Islam will make of this.[/quote]

"All Muslims are not like that".

[goldenchild17]

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1531126' date='May 17 2008, 04:14 AM']"All Muslims are not like that".[/quote]

You may likely disagree with me on this, but I would agree with that statement. I've had a couple of Muslim friends over the years. All of them are not horribly bad people. Some are quite good. But in saying that I don't believe they are fully adhering to the Muslim religion because I do believe the Muslim religion itself is wholly evil and based on evil principles and nothing good is based in that religion. I believe the Koran shows Mary as a sinless virgin so that is good. But all in all, it is an evil religion, but I wouldn't say that all individual Muslims are evil.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='goldenchild17' post='1531148' date='May 17 2008, 11:36 AM']You may likely disagree with me on this, but I would agree with that statement. I've had a couple of Muslim friends over the years. All of them are not horribly bad people. Some are quite good. But in saying that I don't believe they are fully adhering to the Muslim religion because I do believe the Muslim religion itself is wholly evil and based on evil principles and nothing good is based in that religion. I believe the Koran shows Mary as a sinless virgin so that is good. But all in all, it is an evil religion, but I wouldn't say that all individual Muslims are evil.[/quote]
I would pretty much agree with you here.

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='goldenchild17' post='1531148' date='May 17 2008, 05:36 AM']You may likely disagree with me on this, but I would agree with that statement. I've had a couple of Muslim friends over the years. All of them are not horribly bad people. Some are quite good. But in saying that I don't believe they are fully adhering to the Muslim religion because I do believe the Muslim religion itself is wholly evil and based on evil principles and nothing good is based in that religion. I believe the Koran shows Mary as a sinless virgin so that is good. But all in all, it is an evil religion, but I wouldn't say that all individual Muslims are evil.[/quote]

1: Of course, I agree with the statement as well. Common sense dictates (and experience shows) that all Muslims ARE NOT like that (thank God!). My point for using that statement the way I did was that every time a discussion of Islam comes up, every time radical Muslims are criticized, every time Islamic culture and theology are scrutinized, every time someone points out the numerous ways that Muslims around the world oppress people and cause violence...someone pops up with "Not all Muslims are that way" as if they has ANY bearing on the issues at hand. As if the fact that there are good Muslims really changes one iota of the pain caused by the really, really wicked ones.

2: I agree, Islam is a wicked religion and "good Muslims" are actually "bad Muslims".

3: Absolutely not all Muslims are evil. It's so preposterous that anyone could think this. But somehow, if you talk about radical Islam and you don't include a disclaimer with your remarks such as "not all Muslims are like this" then people assume you DO believe all Muslims are like that. Which is ignorant and stupid. How can someone interpret something out of nothing?? "Well, she's criticizing SOME Muslims and she didn't say that SOME Muslims are good, so therefore she must believe they are all bad." This is utter stupidity. If a person is talking about RADICALS (and we know who those people are and what they are doing, so why play dumb?) then it stands to reason that "moderate" or "good" Muslims are not included! But I find myself having to explain these things to people as if they are 3 years old.

4: The Koran's views on the Blessed Virgin really mean nothing to me when that very same Koran refers to to Jews and Christians as "apes and pigs" and gives detailed instructions on how to murder Christians, calling us "kafir" and stating any kind of punishment against us is allowed, from dhimmitude to outright killing.

I posted an interview at my blog that you and others may find very informative regarding this subject...wait, maybe I already posted it. Let me check...

Okay, I did post it here already. But I will post it again and I want to draw your attention to the text about "kafir":

[url="http://talkinjihadblues.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/the-myth-of-moderate-muslims/"]http://talkinjihadblues.wordpress.com/2008...derate-muslims/[/url]

Edited May 17, 2008 by Madame Vengier

[cathoholic_anonymous]

[quote name='mortify' post='1531075' date='May 17 2008, 06:58 AM']I wonder what some of our forum members who regularly defend Islam will make of this.[/quote]

The same as I make of injustice in any country, perpetrated by any group of people against another. It's not possible to treat anybody as inferior - either in your thoughts or in your actions - and have real freedom or real faith, which is why I am an active supporter of groups that work for human rights in Muslim countries where there is injustice. I support them with my money and my prayers, and occasionally by writing articles to raise awareness. Unfortunately, there are people on Phatmass who probably wouldn't support the work of all these groups with the same enthusiasm that I have for them - largely because they're run by Muslims. And that kind of prejudice, too, is unjust.

I am particularly active in peace and justice work for Palestine (I will be travelling there again in the summer) and I have noticed that when I talk about the poverty and inequalities experienced by Palestinian and Israeli Arab Christians on PM, there is a small number of people who refuse to accept what's happening and who say everything they can to exonerate the Israeli government - because only Muslims can be unjust and oppressive, and it's unthinkable that Muslims could ever be part of the oppressed. This kind of prejudice, too, is unjust - and it makes me wonder whether our compassion for Christians in CatholicWing's situation is motivated entirely by fellow-feeling for human beings in distress, or whether it is generated (at least in part) by the fact that the people responsible for that distress are Muslims, everybody's favourite bogeyman.

My first encounter with religious extremism came when I was nine years old, and there was a bomb threat against my school in Saudi Arabia. My dad was friends with Robert Dent, a man who died in a religiously motivated killing in Saudi. I am familiar with soldiers accompanying me on shopping trips and metal blast-doors that must be pulled shut at the top of the stairs before you go to bed at night, just in case terrorists ever end up inside your villa. If I felt like keeping a blog of my experiences, peppering them with invective against the terrorists and the people who spat on me and my mum in the Jeddah Balad, I daresay people would be more comfortable with what I have to say. I might even receive the accolade of being added to Mme Vengier's blog roll as a 'brave freedom fighter'. Yet I don't h ate Muslims - most of my best friends are Muslim. I get the impression that CatholicWing doesn't h ate them either. I've certainly never see him be bitter about them as people. He simply states the bleak reality of what life in Pakistan is like for the non-Muslim minority.

I don't even see Islam as evil. How could I? My early faith formation was Islamic. A copy of Surah al-Fatiha still hangs on my wall. And even if I hadn't had that personal experience...how could I see a group of people as evil and still claim to care about injustice?

Injustice stems from the belief that another person or group of people is inferior to yourself, as I said before. And we all think that about others occasionally, whether we recognise it or not. If we're serious about combating injustice in the world we have to root it out of ourselves first, which is incredibly difficult. It's not easy to live comfortably if you don't have someone to look down on - oh, for the holiest of reasons, of course.

CatholicWing, I am praying for you and your fellow Christians in Pakistan.

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1531034' date='May 17 2008, 06:02 AM']But of course. The Muslims wouldn't be good Muslims if they had it another other way, in keeping with the teachings of their holy Koran.[/quote]

There are Pakistani Muslims who campaign for equal rights and education for everybody in Pakistan, no matter what their religion - Shahnaz Bukhari, Mukhtar Mai, Asma Jahangir, to name just three of the most prominent who crop up in the press a lot. The last one, Jahangir, is a lawyer who has put her life at risk to fight legal cases for many of the most underprivileged members of Pakistani society, including Christians.

Apart from post vitriolic comments about Islam and Muslims on the Internet, what have you done to change the situation for the better, Madame Vengier?

That's a rhetorical question. You needn't try and answer.

May Our Lady, Help of Christians be the strength of all our persecuted brothers and sisters worldwide. And may Our Lady, Sword of Justice cut all prejudice out of us.

Edited May 17, 2008 by Cathoholic Anonymous

[cathoholic_anonymous]

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1531157' date='May 17 2008, 01:25 PM']I agree, Islam is a wicked religion and "good Muslims" are actually "bad Muslims".[/quote]

Some of the kindest and gentlest people I know are very devout Muslims who are extremely knowledgeable about the Qur'an. Four of them can recite it off by heart. One is a religious sheikh. Perhaps you could at least consider the possibility that these people are skilled exegetes in their own right.

[quote]4: The Koran's views on the Blessed Virgin really mean nothing to me when that very same Koran refers to to Jews and Christians as "apes and pigs" and gives detailed instructions on how to murder Christians, calling us "kafir" and stating any kind of punishment against us is allowed, from dhimmitude to outright killing.[/quote]

The Qur'an doesn't refer to Jews and Christians as apes and pigs generally. I presume you are referring to these two verses:

[quote]And you know well the story of those among you who broke Sabbath. We said to them: "Be apes - despised and hated by all." Thus We made their end a warning to the people of their time and succeeding generation, and an admonition for God-fearing people.[/quote]

It refers to some Jews who broke the Sabbath. The Old Testament has equally strong language against people who contravened the laws of God - in Hosea, for example, God compares his people to a whore. This Qur'anic verse is meant to emphasise the gravity of desecrating the Sabbath-day, not to make out that Jews are somehow apelike.

As for the word 'kafir', it is derived from the Arabic word for ingrate and basically means somebody who is ungrateful to God. Some Muslims consider Christians and Jews to be kuffaar. Others say that the word is not applicable to monotheists.

God bless.

[CatherineM]

If nothing else, it shows the wisdom behind the separation of church and state, especially if your religion is a minority one.

[mortify]

[quote name='Cathoholic Anonymous' post='1531160' date='May 17 2008, 06:57 AM'][quote]I agree, Islam is a wicked religion and "good Muslims" are actually "bad Muslims".[/quote]

Some of the kindest and gentlest people I know are very devout Muslims who are extremely knowledgeable about the Qur'an. Four of them can recite it off by heart. One is a religious sheikh. Perhaps you could at least consider the possibility that these people are skilled exegetes in their own right.
[/quote]

I too have many a Muslim friend and just about all of them have excellent adab. They are very kind and polite people, even more so than many Christians. However this doesn't make Islam a good religion, even if these people have good adab because they're trying to model themselves after Muhammad. Islam is intrinsically evil because it rejects the Divine Sonship of Jesus Christ and rejects His Crucifixion. I used to consider Muhammad a prophet to the Arab people until I discovered his explicit rejection of these fundamentals.

[Deb]

I am not surprised that Christians are second-class citizens of Pakistan. Who would have expected otherwise? Pakistan has been in league with the fundamentalist Muslims since the beginning. The United States, which supposedly has such a Christian Administration, does not even look at christianity or how its members are being treated when they deal with other countries. So, how christians live around the world is rarely an issue or gets coverage unless it is through the Catholic Press.

Christians and Palestinians are second-class in Saudi Arabia. Christians are ignored in the Palestian states and are being driven out at an incredible rate.

Christians are being killed in Northern India.

Christians have been persecuted since the beginning of time and that is destined to continue. Mark, chapter 13:7-13 [color="#ff0000"]"When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. The gospel must first be preached to all the nations. When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved."

[/color][color="#000000"]I do believe we have an obligation to stand up and support our fellow christians and we should do that however we can. But, do we ask our government to start making the treatment of christans in any country a priority in decision making in all facets of interaction with another country? Does our country really have an identity as a christian nation anymore as we are ruled more by our desire for wealth and power than anything else? Can we regain that identity and use it? Will all countries be required to stand up, announce their religious reason for their decisions and turn the world into a battle of religions or atheism even? Can we just say no dealing with any country that does not allow equal freedoms and opportunities for all citizens like President Carter did? Human rights used to be something we stood staunchly behind but those days are gone. How can we ask another country to give more rights to some of their citizens when we are eroding our own moral standards by torturing and lying, etc?

I think we need to get with the basics of our religion which it to Love God and our neighbors as we do ourselves and to spread the word of the Gospel. Maybe if we can get our own country back to christian standards, then we can worry about other countries. That is not to say we cannot work on our own against the injustices wes see, writing to officials in Pakistan, writing our officials and letting everyone know about these situations. We need to keep hope alive in our hearts that we can have an impact.

The most effective weapon in the world against evil is prayer. When we pray the rosary, our prayers are magnified through Mary and gain a hundred fold or more of our intentions. Maybe we could all pray at least one rosary a month for Pakistan, not just the christians, but all of them. Maybe one rosary a month for the Muslims. Let the blessings and grace of our prayers flow through God as he wills. Prayers can stop wars. Prayers can bring peace.

We cannot blame anyone in the world for any of their actions unless we have done everything we can do to contribute to the love of others as mandated by our Lord. Many people are frustrated with their own lives so they have a tendency to pin blame on others. We all need to confess our own sins, not other peoples.

The Catechism states: [b]1896[/b] Where sin has perverted the social climate, it is necessary to call for the conversion of hearts and appeal to the grace of God. Charity urges just reforms. There is no solution to the social question apart from the Gospel (cf. [i]CA[/i] 3, 5).


Conversion of hearts is where we should start. Ours and then others. [/color]

[kujo]

Pakistan is made up of 165 million people, 97% of which are Muslim. 77% are Sunnis while 20% are Shi'a. With such an overwhelming majority of people in the country being Muslim, is it any surprise that they dominate all areas of life? I mean, Pastafarians have religious freedoms in the US, but do you think there are any of them in our government?

[Deb]

[quote name='kujo' post='1531299' date='May 17 2008, 11:25 AM']Pakistan is made up of 165 million people, 97% of which are Muslim. 77% are Sunnis while 20% are Shi'a. With such an overwhelming majority of people in the country being Muslim, is it any surprise that they dominate all areas of life? I mean, Pastafarians have religious freedoms in the US, but do you think there are any of them in our government?[/quote]


Good Point. How many Muslims do we have positions of power here? But, we do have many of all other religions.