Subject to law, public order and morality:

(a) Every citizen shall have the right to profess, practice and propagate his religion; and

(b) Every religious denomination and every sect therefore shall have the right to establish, maintain and manage its religious institution.                                    (Article 20, Constitution of Pakistan)

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance (Article 18, Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Nine specific rights

In accordance with Article 1 of the present Declaration, and subject to the provisions of Article 1, paragraph 3, the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief shall include, inter alia, the following freedoms:

6.1 To worship or assemble in connection with a religion or belief, and to establish and maintain places for these purposes;

6.2 To establish and maintain appropriate charitable or humanitarian institutions;

6.3 To make, acquire and use to an adequate extent the necessary articles and materials related to the rites and customs of a religion or belief;

6.4 To write, issue and disseminate relevant publications in these areas;

6.5 To teach a religion or belief in places suitable for these purposes;

6.6 To solicit and receive voluntary financial and other contributions from individuals and institutions;

6.7 To train, appoint, elect or designate by succession appropriate leaders called for by the requirements and standards of any religion or belief;

6.8 To observe days of rest and to celebrate holidays and ceremonies in accordance with the precepts of one’s religion or belief;

6.9 To establish and maintain communications with individuals and communities in matters of religion or belief at the national and international levels.’                                          Article 6

Declaration on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion and belief

The rights of the citizens of Pakistan to profess, practice and propagate religion were constrained by state intervention and lack of them in 2006. The law and order situation required development of police and private armed guard to protect people during prayers and gatherings, creating financial and management implications.

On the other hand places of worship were again attacked by organized mobs, either on pretext of blasphemy or intimidating and land grabbing. Education and media policies continued to provide conducive environment for embedded intolerance especially for religious minorities and sects.

Conversion of the non-Muslim to Islam portrayed a trend of massive assimilation and peer pressure. However many conversions have been noted in this report owning to economic pressures, targeted influence and intolerance created mainly by the blasphemy laws.

Conversions for marriage, while it is unfair to both religions – embraced and forsaken – have inadequate family laws as a primary reason in their background. The review of the family laws of the religious minorities is since long demanded and over due.

Scale of violence in the name of religion and sect

By the end of December 2005, one incident of sectarian killing was reported every five days from different locations in the country, with an average of at least three people getting killed in each attack. A total of 211 people were reported killed and at least 403 injured in some 73 incidents that occurred in 16 cities across Pakistan.                                                  The Herald January 2006