Obligations of non-Muslims

Introduction

Rights and duties go together: a citizen who claims the protection of the state must also fulfil obligations towards it. The constitution makes no distinction between Muslims and non-Muslims in the basic duties of citizenship.

Constitutional obligations (Article 5)

• Article 5(1): loyalty to the state is the basic duty of every citizen.
• Article 5(2): obedience to the constitution and law is the inviolable obligation of every citizen wherever he may be, and of every other person for the time being within Pakistan.

Civic duties

• Paying taxes honestly.
• Voting in elections and taking part in public life.
• Respecting the religious beliefs and feelings of fellow citizens, as all citizens must.
• Protecting public property and the environment.
• Serving the country in times of need; non-Muslims have served with distinction in the armed forces, for example the Christian pilot Cecil Chaudhry, a hero of the 1965 and 1971 wars.

Limits on certain offices

• The President must be a Muslim (Article 41) and so must the Prime Minister (Article 91); both take oaths affirming belief in the finality of the prophethood.
• All other offices are open to non-Muslims: they have served as judges, federal and provincial ministers, legislators, generals and senior civil servants.
• Justice A. R. Cornelius, a Christian, was Chief Justice of Pakistan (1960–68), and Justice Rana Bhagwandas, a Hindu, served as Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan.

Contribution of minorities

Non-Muslims have contributed to Pakistan in every field: Christian missionary schools and hospitals such as Forman Christian College and Kinnaird College in Lahore, Parsi philanthropists in Karachi, Hindu and Sikh communities in Sindh and Punjab, and minority members in sport, arts and public service.

Conclusion

By fulfilling the same duties of loyalty, lawfulness and service, non-Muslim citizens stand as equal partners in building Pakistan.