Pakistan portal |
Freedom of religion in Pakistan is formally guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan for individuals of various religions and religious sects.
Pakistan gained independence in 1947 and was founded upon the concept of two-nation theory. At the time of Pakistan's creation the 'hostage theory' had been espoused. According to this theory the Hindu minority in Pakistan was to be given a fair deal in Pakistan in order to ensure the protection of the Muslim minority in India.[1][2]
Religion | Population | % |
---|---|---|
Muslims () | 216,563,599 | 96.5% |
Hindus () | 4,937,201 | 2.2% |
Christians () | 2,693,018 | 1.2% |
Others (inc. Sikhs, Jews, Jains, Ahmadiyyas, Buddhists, Irreligious) | 224,418 | 0.1% |
Total | 224,418,238 | 100% |
Pakistan has a population estimated at 224,418,238, as of 2021.[4] In the early 2000s, it was estimated that 96.5% of Pakistanis were Muslims (75-95% Sunni,[5][6][7][8] 5-20% Shia,[5][6][9][10] and 0.22-2.2% Ahmadi,[11] who are not permitted to call themselves Muslims - see Religious discrimination in Pakistan), while the remainder are Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, members of other faiths, and agnostics and atheists.[12]
In 2016, Sindh, Pakistan's most religiously diverse province, with 8% religious minority population (predominantly Hindus) passed a bill that outlawed forced conversions. After being passed by the Provincial Assembly, the bill was tabled by a faction of the Pakistan Muslim League called PML-F, Pakistan Muslim League Functional, which in Sindh is led by Sufi leader Pir Pagara.[13][14][15]
The logic of the hostage theory tied the treatment of Muslim minorities in India to the treatment meted out to Hindus in Pakistan.
Within the subcontinent, ML propaganda claimed that besides liberating the 'majority provinces' Muslims it would guarantee protection for Muslims who would be left behind in Hindu India. In this regard, it repeatedly stressed the hostage population theory that held that 'hostage' Hindu and Sikh minorities inside Pakistan would guarantee Hindu India's good behaviour towards its own Muslim minority.
Religion: The overwhelming majority of the population (96.5%) is Muslim, of whom approximately 95% are Sunni and 5% Shia.
On the other hand, in Pakistan, where 6% of the survey respondents identify as Shia, Sunni attitudes are more mixed: 50% say Shias are Muslims, while 41% say they are not.
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