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.
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.