Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD3777
2007-08-29 10:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

PAKISTANI CHRISTIANS APPEAL TO THE SUPREME COURT

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PK 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3012
PP RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #3777 2411050
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 291050Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1394
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 2211
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 7467
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1653
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 7199
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 3280
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 1711
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 003777 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTANI CHRISTIANS APPEAL TO THE SUPREME COURT


Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 003777

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTANI CHRISTIANS APPEAL TO THE SUPREME COURT


Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (C) Summary: On August 25, the Pakistan Christian National
Party (PCNP) filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking
to declare as unconstitutional the requirement that the
President of Pakistan be a Muslim. Christian groups and other
minorities remain divided on many issues; however, all have
vowed to fight against discriminatory laws and Constitutional
clauses. Like an increasing number of Pakistanis, many of
these minorities see the reinvigorated Supreme Court as an
avenue for actual justice. End Summary.


2. (U) PCNP Chairman Joseph Francis filed a petition in the
Supreme Court challenging Article 41(2) of the Pakistani
Constitution that bars non-Muslims from running for the
presidency of Pakistan. Francis claims that the 1973
constitution suppressed minority rights and thus violated
both the teachings of Islam and the Resolution of Pakistan
(the founding document of the country). The PCNP has vowed to
use the emboldened Supreme Court to challenge all
discriminatory clauses in the Constitution and the Pakistani
Penal Code. Joseph Francis has also announced that he would
try to run for President of Pakistan. (Note: Christians form
less than two percent of Pakistan's 160 million people. End
Note.)


3. (U) On August 11, various minorities groups held the first
"Minority Day" in anticipation of Pakistan's 60th
anniversary. The groups called for an end to discrimination
against religious and other minorities. Minority leaders hope
that the encouraging judicial atmosphere will help redress
many of their grievances, which include use of the blasphemy
laws to pursue personal and/or financial grievances against
religious minorities.


4. (C) Comment: Several clauses in the Pakistani constitution
and in its Penal Code are discriminatory towards Christians
and other religious minorities, however, challenges in the
past have been futile. Political infighting plagues the
various minority groups and many Christian groups do not
support Joseph Francis, however, his petition will be a test
case to see how far the court is willing to push in terms of
guaranteeing civil and human rights.



PATTERSON