ABSTRACT
Since its founding in 1947, Pakistan has gradually become less tolerant of religious minorities. The descent began in 1949 with the Constituent Assembly declaring the objective of Pakistan's Constitution to be the creation of an Islamic State. It reached a nadir with the 'Islamization' drive under General Zia-ul-Haq during the 1980s. Discussions about how to transform Pakistan into an Islamic State started almost immediately after Independence. Pakistan's first Constitution of 1956, abrogated within 2 years, described Pakistan as 'the Islamic Republic of Pakistan' and included the Objectives Resolution as a preamble. The humiliating defeat of the Pakistan army in the 1971 war with India, and secession of East Pakistan to become Bangladesh, made it impossible for the military to continue in power. Discrimination, harassment and violence have been directed against all religious minorities, including Ahmadis, Christians, Shia Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Parsis and Jains. Pakistan's national discourse, aided by its school curriculum, generates religious prejudice against minorities.
