On August 11, 2025, Pakistan celebrated its annual National Minorities Day. The day commemorates a speech that the country’s founder, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, made on Aug 11, 1947, where he stressed equal rights for all citizens regardless of religion.
Pakistan’s constitution contains several provisions which intend to protect minority rights. In practice, however, Pakistan has a long way to go in protecting religious minorities, which primarily include Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Ahmadi Muslims, and Shia Muslims, among other smaller groups. Persecution including violent attacks, abductions, and forced conversions against minorities still occur regularly in the country. Accusations of “blasphemy,” punishable by death in Pakistan, are used to incite violence, particularly against religious minorities and people with differing ideas. Studies have shown that Pakistani authorities, particularly in rural areas, act under pressure from extremist groups or fail to respond altogether.
National Minorities Day aims to remind society of the religious and socio-economic rights of Pakistan’s minorities, and promote religious harmony and peace. The day before National Minorities Day this year, minority rights groups rallied in the city of Karachi. One participant, Sardar Ram Singh, told The Associated Press, “The first demand is to end forced conversions. Second demand is that the places that non-Muslims, that minorities have given to the city, the schools, the colleges, they should be acknowledged and preserved.” Singh noted that some of these places had been taken over, and should be given back. The third demand, she said, was safety, security, and guarding places of worship for non-Muslims.
Speakers advocated for changes to the legal and education system in the Pakistan to end religious hatred and discrimination.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made separate statements, each reaffirming their commitment to minority rights and religious harmony. In a press release, President Zardari said, “We remain determined to build a society free from prejudice — one that embraces diversity as a strength and is anchored in mutual respect, interfaith harmony, and shared progress.”
Zardari pointed out the contributions of minorities to Pakistan. He noted that minorities have served in the armed forces, judiciary, civil services, education and healthcare. He described their patriotism and service as “a source of pride for the entire nation.”
In his own statement, PM Shebaz said, “Our struggle is for a Pakistan where no citizen feels isolated or unsafe due to their religion, but where bonds of brotherhood rise above prejudice.”
Across the country, NGOs and activists commemorated the day. The Community Development Foundation (CDF), based in Jacobabad, posted on Facebook honoring the day, saying it continues to promote “peace through togetherness.”
The Sustainable Social Development Foundation (SSDF), based in Islamabad, says that minority rights day offers a valuable moment to “recommit ourselves to fostering a society that values the rights and dignity of all its citizens, regardless of their backgrounds.” The SSDF says that schools should “incorporate lessons on diversity, tolerance, and respect for all cultures and religions.” This, it said, involves teaching empathy and understanding through curricula highlighting the historical contributions of minorities in Pakistan.
The SSDF calls for interfaith dialogue and community workshops and initiatives to break down barriers. It also calls for legal reforms and new legislation to address emerging challenges and protect minorities from discrimination and violence. The organization also advocates for positive media representation of minorities which highlights their achievements and contributions to society, while combating negative stereotypes.
In May, Peace News Network (PNN) published an article about a forum in Pakistan’s city of Narowal which aimed to combat hate and extremism, and build peace. Pakistan’s Narowal Peace Dialogue Forum aimed to turn the memory of past violence into a platform for unity, as bitter polarization and extremist ideology threaten the nation’s social fabric. Read the full article here.
Keywords: Pakistan, religious minorities, minorities, National Minorities Day, minority rights, human rights, peace, conflict, conflict resolution, religious harmony
Tara Abhasakun
Tara Abhasakun is Peace News Network (PNN)'s managing editor. She is journalist based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and formerly in Bangkok, Thailand. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
