MINORITIES RIGHTS PROTECTION IN PUNJAB: AN ANALYSIS OF PRIMARY DATA COLLECTED FROM CHRISTIAN MINORITY

Pakistan is an Islamic republic as declared the equal rights to every citizen of Pakistan. In Pakistan lot of marginalized groups neglected by the society as they are religious minorities, transgender, special persons etc. In the diverts groups in a country are living and having a lot of issues in toleration of each other identity and that’s why the minorities are considered as marginalized. In all constitutions as 1956, 1962 and 1973 that everywhere minorities have mentioned with equal rights especially the constitution of 1973. As article 20 states that every Pakistani citizen have liberty to establish their religious institutions and practice their own religion. With all these equal rights mentioned in constitution the country has lack of implementation of state policies. The purpose of the research is to explore the realities about the Minorities rights and dealing with them by society. The constitution of 1973 provides the guarantee of equal rights of citizen, but some marginalized groups suppressed by the society. The focus of this research work is to elucidate minorities rights focused on Christian Minority mechanism in Punjab and to explore the difference between theory and practice. The data has been collected from primary and secondary sources. The primary data has been collected through questionnaire. The data was collected from 800 Christian minority people from Punjab. After analysis of data it has come to know that there is a difference in theory and its implications. The government should more focus on minorities rights mechanism and mindset of people should be change towards protection of minorities rights.