Pakistan Government Approve Column for Religious Information in Passports

Christians in Pakistan have expressed concerns regarding the recent decision of the Pakistan government to include a new column in new passports that will include the religion of the holder.

At the end of the last year Pakistan released new machine readable passports to keep in line with global standards of travel documents with the help of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The format for the new passports, which originally was without the column for religion, was borrowed directly from the ICAO.

However, waves of protests followed, led by Muthaida Majlis-e-Amal – a six-party religious alliance. They believe the government had excluded the religious column to appease the US.

Muthaida Majlis-e-Amal started the campaign for including the religious column in the new passports, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz later set up a cabinet committee to examine the issue. The committee reported back and recommended the Federal Government approve incorporation of religion in the National Passports, and also recommended that the words 'Islamic Republic of Pakistan' should be placed on the passport cover.

"This is a retrograde step. We have always opposed it," said Victor Azariah, general secretary of National Council of Churches of Pakistan (NCCP), which groups four major Protestant denominations in the country.

The Roman Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of Pakistan are also protesting against the passport issue. "The move has disappointed all the moderate and enlightened masses of Pakistan, particularly the religious minorities who already suffer social discrimination and religious intolerance".

"No to religion in passports" posters are currently being distributed in churches by both Christian institutions and secular non-governmental organisations (NGOs).