Human rights activists in Pakistan have raised serious alarm over the deteriorating state of religious freedom in the country, pointing to discriminatory laws, entrenched social attitudes, and the persistent failure to enforce constitutional protections. The concerns were voiced at a symposium titled 'Advancing Religious Freedom Through Education: Emerging Challenges, Opportunities and Responses', held at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Secretariat in Lahore on 19 June.

Constitutional Guarantees, Ground Realities

Pakistani lawyer and human rights advocate Hina Jilani told attendees that religious freedom has remained one of Pakistan's most pressing human rights issues despite constitutional safeguards and decades of advocacy. She noted that Article 20 of Pakistan's constitution guarantees freedom of religion and protection of minority rights, yet its implementation has been deeply inconsistent.

'We are ashamed that the laws we have today show a stark difference between the Constitution and its implementation. Where we took one step forward, we moved two steps behind,' Jilani said, according to reports. She added that the HRCP, since its founding in 1986, has consistently identified religious freedom as a core concern.

Jilani argued that policies and legislation introduced during the rule of former Pakistani President General Zia-ul-Haq entrenched perceptions of religious superiority among the majority population and systematically deepened discrimination against minority communities. 'In our country, it has been the policies, legislation and social attitudes which have unfortunately seeped into judicial understandings,' she said.

Ahmadis Face Escalating Persecution

Jilani reserved particular concern for the Ahmadi community, whose members face legal restrictions on the public expression of their faith. 'My major concern today has been for the Ahmadis. We have not just violated their freedom, but if they are a minority, they have the right to profess their religion,' she said.

Notably, she flagged a troubling new front: expressions of faith by Ahmadis on digital platforms have increasingly resulted in cybercrime proceedings against them, effectively extending state-backed religious restrictions into online spaces.

Education System Reinforcing Bias

Speaker Neelam Hussain argued that educational policies shaped during successive military governments have fostered a singular religious-nationalist narrative, crowding out critical thinking and diversity. The resulting biases in textbooks and classrooms, she said, continue to shape societal attitudes and restrict opportunities for minority students.

Fellow speaker Peter Jacob drew attention to constitutional provisions stating that children should not be compelled to receive religious instruction inconsistent with their own beliefs. He voiced concern over the inclusion of compulsory religious content in national curricula and the persistent difficulties faced by educational institutions run by minority communities.

A Pattern With Deep Roots

This is not an isolated moment of concern. The HRCP has documented a sustained pattern of minority persecution in Pakistan over multiple decades, with blasphemy laws frequently cited as instruments of targeted harassment. The symposium reflects a growing push by civil society to link educational reform with the protection of fundamental rights — an approach that critics of the current policy environment say is long overdue.

Whether the Pakistani government will respond with concrete legislative or curricular reform remains to be seen. Activists at the symposium signalled they would continue to press for accountability, even as the gap between constitutional promise and ground reality widens.