June 18, 2026
By Iqra Manzoor
LAHORE
“We are ashamed that the laws we have today show a stark difference between the Constitution and its implementation,” human rights activist and Advocate Supreme Court Hina Jilani said on Thursday, arguing that religious freedom in Pakistan continues to be undermined by discriminatory policies, social attitudes and weak enforcement of constitutional protections.
Jilani was speaking at a symposium titled *”Advancing Religious Freedom Through Education: Emerging Challenges, Opportunities and Responses”* held at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Secretariat. The event was jointly organized by the J. Reuben Clark Law Society (JRCLS), Pakistan Chapter, and HRCP.
Delivering the keynote address, Jilani said religious freedom has remained one of the most pressing human rights concerns in Pakistan despite constitutional guarantees and decades of advocacy.
“Where we took one step forward, we moved two steps behind,” she said, noting that the issue has remained a primary concern of HRCP since its establishment in 1986.
She argued that policies and legislation introduced during General Zia-ul-Haq’s era fostered a sense of religious superiority among the majority population and shaped discriminatory attitudes toward minorities.
“In our country, it has been the policies, legislation and social attitudes which have unfortunately seeped into judicial understandings,” she said.
Referring to constitutional protections, Jilani said Article 20 guarantees freedom of religion and protection of minority rights, but implementation remains uneven.
“My major concern today has been for the Ahmadis. We have not just violated their freedom, but if they are a minority, they have the right to profess their religion,” she said, adding that even expressing their faith on digital platforms has led to cybercrime cases against members of the community.
Jilani also criticized the judiciary for failing to consistently enforce fundamental rights despite constitutional safeguards. Referring to the landmark June 19, 2014 judgment authored by former Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, she said important directions aimed at protecting minorities have not been fully implemented.
Turning to education, she emphasized that intolerance must be addressed before it manifests as discrimination or violence.
“We should be working on the prevention side. We have to make sure that education becomes a source of good,” she said.
“The Constitution is not taught in our schools in any meaningful manner. These principles have to be taught to people and valued.”
Jilani further warned that growing social isolation between communities of different faiths was contributing to intolerance.
“There is retrogression in our society because people have not interacted with people from other faiths,” she said.
Opening the symposium, Sikander Ahmed Shah, Pakistan Chapter Chair of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, said religious freedom is increasingly shaped by both classrooms and digital platforms.
“One teaches through the classroom and the other through the screen,” he said.
While classrooms influence values and attitudes, he noted that digital spaces often amplify harassment, misinformation and disinformation. He called for practical approaches to promoting religious tolerance through both educational and online spaces.
Adam Christopher Channer, Asia Area Chair of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, said religious freedom must be protected through both the rule of law and dialogue.
“Religious freedom is not only implemented through the rule of law; it is also taught and learned through constructive dialogue,” he said, referring to ongoing international efforts to promote religious liberty.
The symposium also featured a panel discussion moderated by Sikander Ahmed Shah, with participation from Neelam Hussain, founder and executive coordinator of Simorgh Women’s Resource and Publication Centre; Shahid Rehmat, founder and executive director of Youth Development Forum; Dr. Sara Rizvi Jafree, associate professor at Forman Christian College University; and Peter Jacob, executive director of the Center for Social Justice.
Neelam Hussain argued that educational policies shaped under successive military governments promoted a singular religious-nationalist narrative that discouraged critical thinking and diversity. She said prejudice embedded in textbooks and classrooms continues to influence attitudes within society and even affects opportunities available to minority students.
Shahid Rehmat highlighted a technology-based initiative using artificial intelligence to identify hate speech and hateful content targeting religious groups and genders online. He said the project is currently in its testing phase and could eventually assist authorities in addressing online intolerance.
Dr. Sara Rizvi Jafree said Pakistan has a history of pluralism and coexistence but warned that social media has become a major factor in spreading polarization and hatred. She noted that minority communities often face significant mental health challenges as a result of exclusion and online abuse.
Drawing on findings from a two-year research intervention, Jafree said students from different faith backgrounds consistently identified peace and inclusion as shared values across religions. She called for stronger teacher training, improved accountability mechanisms and the use of emerging technologies to counter hate campaigns.
Peter Jacob focused on curriculum-related challenges and constitutional protections for religious minorities. Referring to Article 22 of the Constitution, he said no child should be compelled to receive religious instruction that does not relate to their own faith.
He also raised concerns about compulsory religious content in curricula and the continued challenges faced by educational institutions run by minority communities. At the same time, he acknowledged positive developments, including policies allowing minority students to study their own religions and interventions by the Higher Education Commission to prevent discriminatory educational requirements.
The speakers agreed that educational reform, greater accountability and meaningful implementation of constitutional protections are essential to promoting religious freedom and countering discrimination in Pakistan.