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Christian Solidarity Worldwide

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Christian Solidarity Worldwide Christian Solidarity Worldwide PAKISTAN Annual Report 2002 March 2002 1 PAKISTAN ANNUAL REPORT 2002 CONTENTS 1 COUNTRY PROFILE _______________________________________________3 1.1 MAP AND GENERAL PROFILE _________________________________________3 1.1.1 Government___________________________________________________4 1.1.2 Economy _____________________________________________________5 1.1.3 Military ______________________________________________________5 1.1.4 Transnational Disputes__________________________________________6 1.2 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL BACKGROUND ______________________________7 1.3 GENERAL HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS __________________________________8 1.3.1 Thematic concerns _____________________________________________8 1.3.2 Discrimination against Women____________________________________8 1.3.3 Pakistan and the United Nations _________________________________10 1.4 RELIGIOUS FREEDOM OVERVIEW _____________________________________10 1.5 ISLAMISATION____________________________________________________12 1.5.1 The Constitution ______________________________________________13 1.5.2 The Implementation of Shar’iah and Other Discriminatory Legislation ___14 1.5.3 Ahmadis_____________________________________________________15 1.5.4 Islamic Militant Groups ________________________________________15 1.5.5 Sunni and Shi’a conflict ________________________________________16 1.5.6 The Blasphemy Law ___________________________________________17 1.5.7 Apostasy (Conversion from Islam to other faith) _____________________20 1.5.8 The Separate Electoral System ___________________________________20 1.6 INTERFAITH INITIATIVES ____________________________________________21 2 REVIEW OF 2001 _________________________________________________22 2.1 SUMMARY_______________________________________________________22 2.2 MUSHARRAF’S POLICIES AND RECENT CRACKDOWNS_____________________22 2.3 RESTORATION OF THE JOINT ELECTORAL SYSTEM _______________________24 2.4 DETAILS OF INDIVIDUAL CASES ______________________________________24 2.4.1 Sectarian Violence ____________________________________________24 2.4.2 Blasphemy Law_______________________________________________25 2.4.3 Forced Conversion ____________________________________________28 2.4.4 Other Cases of Religious Intolerance ______________________________28 2.5 CSW ACTION ____________________________________________________29 2.5.1 Prayer ______________________________________________________29 2.5.2 Information sharing ___________________________________________29 2.5.3 Campaigning initiatives ________________________________________30 2.6 CONCLUSIONS____________________________________________________30 2.7 RECOMMENDATIONS_______________________________________________31 2 1 COUNTRY PROFILE 1.1 MAP AND GENERAL PROFILE1 Country Name Islamic Republic of Pakistan (long form) Pakistan (short form), West Pakistan (former) Capital Islamabad Independence 14 August 1947 (from British India) Geography Border countries Iran and Afghanistan in the west, China in the north, Kashmir in the northeast and India in the east Border waters Arabian Sea in the south Area 778,720 sq. km. Climate Mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north Terrain Flat Indus plain in east, mountains in north and northwest; Baluchistan plateau in west Government Form of Government Military-led administration (Federal Republic; Multiparty democracy prior to military coup in October 1999) Head of State President General Pervez Musharraf Head of Government President General Pervez Musharraf (as Chief Executive) 1 All figures are from the World Factbook 2000, unless otherwise indicated. 3 People Population2 144.6 million Annual Growth 2.11 % (2001 est.) Life expectancy 57.7 years Literacy3 Male 47%, Female 21% Languages Urdu (official) and English (official); Punjabi, Baluchi and Pashtu Religion State Religion Islam Demography4 Muslim: 97% (approx. 140 million) (Sunni 77%, Shi’a 20%) Hindu: 1.51 % (approx. 2.17 million) Christian: 1.56% (approx. 2.25 million) Others : 0.26% (including Ahmadis) Economy G.D.P. US$282 billion (2000 est.) G.D.P. Real Growth Rate 4.8% (2000 est.) Population below poverty 40% (2000 est.) line 1.1.1 Government Pakistan is currently under military rule. General Pervez Musharraf, the Chief of Army and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, took power by ousting a democratic government in October 1999. To bolster his own political power and to create an image of national stability for foreign lenders and investors, the General took an unconstitutional move and assumed the presidency on 20th June 2001. In the wake of US led air strikes on Afghanistan, he further extended his tenure as the Chief of Army for another three years5. However, he promised to return to civilian rule by 12th October 2002. Prior to the 1999 coup, Pakistan was an Islamic republic, with a democratic parliament. The bicameral federal legislature (currently suspended) consisted of the Senate (Upper House)6 and the National Assembly (Lower House)7. Administratively, Pakistan is a federal republic comprising four semi-autonomous provinces (Baluchistan, North-West Frontier Province, Punjab and Sindh), one territory 2 Statistics based on the 1981 census, the latest figures available. The Pakistan Government conducted a census in 1998 but the update is not yet available. 3 Age 15 and over who can read and write. 4 It is widely believed that minority groups are grossly underrepresented and the actual size of their current populations should be considerably higher. Both Ahmadis and Christians are estimated to be in the region of 3 to 4 million, which is over 2% of the population. As Ahmadis would not register themselves as non-Muslims, most Ahmadis are not represented. 5 He was scheduled to retire as the army chief on 6th October 2001. 6 87 members, approximately half of its members, are elected every 3 years for a six-year term. 7 It has recently been increased from 217 seats to 350 seats. Each member is elected for a 5-year term. 4 (the Federally Administered Tribal Areas) and one federal capital area (the Islamabad Capital Territory). The civil and criminal judicial systems as well as the Shari’ah system run concurrently in Pakistan. Various courts have overlapping jurisdictions. The Civil court, District court, High court and the Supreme court form the civil appeals process, whereas the magistrate, sessions court, High court and Supreme court is the progression in the criminal system. The Shari’ah Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court and the Federal Shari’at Court hear appeals under Shari’ah. 1.1.2 Economy Pakistan’s economy relies heavily on simple cotton-based industries. Largely owing to political turmoil, both domestically and with increasing tensions with India, Pakistan’s economy has been teetering towards bankruptcy in the last few years. A significant percentage of the population suffers from acute poverty. About two-fifths of the population is without access to clean water and over half has no access to sanitation. Things took a turn for the worse after Pakistan embarked on a nuclear weapon testing programme in May 1998. The already-fragile economy was faced with a package of economic sanctions from major industrial countries, including a freeze on most foreign aid and concession loans. Pakistan owes in excess of £25 billion (US$ 37 billion) in foreign debt. Foreign loans and grants provide for nearly a quarter of government revenue. In an effort to rescue the country from bankruptcy, General Musharraf made it a priority to root out corruption and poverty. As of 22nd September 2001, in acknowledging Pakistan’s co-operation to the ‘war on terrorism’, the US has waived all nuclear-related sanctions. Sanctions relating to the export of arms technology and those imposed in 1999 after General Musharraf took over the democratically elected government, however, remain in force. Since the IMF resumed lending to Pakistan last November, the World Bank has also approved £302 million (US$ 450 million) in standby loans to help Pakistan revive its ailing economy. 1.1.3 Military The Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces and National Guard are responsible for national security. Pakistan’s 610,000 strong army, the world’s eighth largest, is the country’s most cohesive national institution. Prior to September 11, military expenses accounted for 4% of the country’s GDP expenditure. 5 1.1.4 Transnational Disputes 1.1.4.1 Afghanistan & the Taliban For decades Pakistan has been inextricably linked with Afghanistan and the Taliban. In the 1970s, Pakistan’s Interservices Intelligence Directorate (ISI) worked closely with the CIA in mobilising Muslim guerrillas to fight Afghanistan’s Russian invaders. Until very recently, Pakistan has been widely suspected of providing vital military aid, including technical assistance, transport and soldiers, to the Taliban in violation of international sanctions. Most of the Taliban leadership were trained in Pakistani religious schools and much of its funding came illegally through Islamic militant networks in Pakistan. An estimated 5 to 10 million illegal weapons in Pakistan were used in support of the conflict in Afghanistan. The ongoing civil war, the drought and the economic situation in Afghanistan have had an adverse impact on Pakistan. According to UNHCR, towards the end of 2001, Pakistan was hosting over 2 million refugees from Afghanistan. The influx of refugees and the growth of armed Islamic guerrilla movements at the border have augmented Pakistan’s internal instability
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