Protests Against 'Religion Column' in Pakistan Passports Continue

After approval from the Federal Government to re-incorporate a religion coloumn in the National Passports and the recommendation to place 'Islamic Republic of Pakistan' on the passport cover, human and religious rights defending groups in Pakistan are preparing to start a nationwide protest campaign.

"We will not accept this decision which is unjust and contrary to democracy. A resolution against the religion column will be presented to the National and Provincial Assemblies of Pakistan by like-minded legislators."

On Monday April 25, a joint news conference was held in the diocese of Faisalabad in Toba Tek Singh. The Human Development Centre (HDC), and the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) have stated that the decision of the government to include the religious column in the passport was strongly rejected by the Pakistan religious minorities and 'No to religion in passports' posters have already been distributed in Christian churches and secular non-governmental organisations.

On Sunday April 24, APMA held a rally in Multan and a few days earlier a protest march was organised by HDC in Toba Tek Singh, where the director, Fr Bonnie Mendes expressed that in his view, adding religion to the passport would be a step towards 'social sectarianism' as it is a national document and it should be same for everyone.

"Pakistan has already suffered from sectarianism," he said, "and the government should not open the door to this social phenomenon."

According to the APMA chairman, Shahbaz Batti, "It is unfortunate and devoid of any logic, reason or civilised norm. It only shows that the government has once again buckled under the pressure of religious extremists. A passport is not a certificate of religious belief, it only certifies the nationality of holder."

Michael Javed, former Sindh assemblyman spoke at the press conference, and was quoted as saying that the father of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, "gave absolute freedom to all religious minorities. Jinah said, religion has nothing to do with state business and the inclusion of religion in the passport is a clear denial of that ideology."

Parvez Rafiq, a Christian Punjab assemblyman and two other Christian members had previously submitted a resolution against the religion column in the passports to the Punjab Assembly, however this was rejected.