:Religion in Pakistan

Khawaja Nazimuddin, Pakistan's second Prime Minister, argued against equal rights for all citizens in an Islamic state.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n7u2BgAAQBAJ&pg=PA149|title=The Ahmadis and the Politics of Religious Exclusion in Pakistan |last=Qasmi |first=Ali Usman |publisher=Anthem Press |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-78308-425-8|page=149 |quote=Nazim-ud-Din favored an Islamic state not just out of political expediency but also because of his deep religious belief in its efficacy and practicality ... Nazim-ud-Din commented:'I do not agree that religion is a private affair of the individual nor do I agree that in an Islamic state every citizen has identical rights, no matter what his caste, creed or faith be'.}} However, The Constitution of Pakistan establishes Islam as the state religion,{{cite web|url=http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part1.html|title=The Constitution of Pakistan, Part I: Introductory|publisher=Pakistani.org|access-date=2013-06-19}} and provides that all citizens have the right to profess, practice and propagate their religion subject to law, public order, and morality.{{cite web |url=http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part2.ch1.html |title=The Constitution of Pakistan, Part II: Chapter 1: Fundamental Rights|publisher=Pakistani.org|access-date=2013-06-19}} The Constitution also states that all laws are to conform with the injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Quran and Sunnah.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Wh8AgAAQBAJ&q=1973+constitution+pakistan+islam&pg=PA189|title=The Right to Development in International Law: The Case of Pakistan|last=Iqbal|first=Khurshid|publisher=Routledge|year=2009|isbn=9781134019991|pages=189}}

The Constitution limits the political rights of Pakistan's non-Muslims. Only Muslims are allowed to become the President{{cite web|url=http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part3.ch1.html|title=The Constitution of Pakistan, Part III: Chapter 1: The President|publisher=Pakistani.org|access-date=2013-06-19}} or the Prime Minister.{{Cite web |title=The Constitution of Pakistan, Notes for Part III, Chapter 3 |url=http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part3.ch3.notes.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091110133919/http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part3.ch3.notes.html |archivedate=10 November 2009 |website=pakistani.org}} Only Muslims are allowed to serve as judges in the Federal Shariat Court, which has the power to strike down any law deemed un-Islamic, though its judgments can be overruled by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.{{cite web|url=http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part7.ch3a.html|title=The Constitution of Pakistan, Part VII: Chapter 3A: Federal Shariat Court|publisher=Pakistani.org|access-date=2013-06-19}} However, non-Muslims have served as judges in the High Courts and Supreme Court.{{cite web |last1=Shah |first1=Sabir |title=Justice Bhagwandas and some other non-Muslim Pak luminaries |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/26100-justice-bhagwandas-and-some-other-non-muslim-pak-luminaries |website=The News International |access-date=7 October 2019}} In 2019, Naveed Amir, a Christian member of the National Assembly moved a bill to amend the article 41 and 91 of the Constitution which would allow non-Muslims to become Prime Minister and President of Pakistan. However, Pakistan's parliament blocked the bill.{{cite news |title=Pakistan's parliament blocks bill allowing non-Muslims to become country's PM, President|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pakistans-parliament-blocks-bill-allowing-non-muslims-to-become-countrys-pm-president/article29593495.ece |newspaper=The Hindu|department=City: Delhi |agency=TNN |access-date=10 February 2020}}

The main principles of Human rights in the Pakistani constitution were incorporated in its fundamental rights which were granted under various articles of 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 36 & 38 of the constitution{{Cite web |title=Fundamental Rights in Pakistan – PHRO |url=http://phropak.org/fundamental-rights-in-pakistan/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123073452/http://phropak.org/fundamental-rights-in-pakistan/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=23 January 2020}} –

(a) Article 20 : Freedom to profess religion and to manage religious institutions.{{Cite web |date=19 April 2021 |title=Article 20 freedom to profess religion and to manage religious institutions – the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 Developed by Zain Sheikh |url=https://pakistanconstitutionlaw.com/article-20-freedom-to-profess-religion-and-to-manage-religious-institutions/ |access-date=30 March 2025 |website=pakistanconstitutionlaw.com}}

(b) Article 21 : Safeguard against taxation for purposes of any particular religion.

(c) Article 22 : Safeguards as to educational institutions in respect of religion, etc.{{Cite web |title=Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 – Part II |url=http://www.commonlii.org/pk/legis/const/1973/3.html |access-date=30 March 2025 |website=commonlii.org}}

(d) Article 25 : Equality of citizens.{{Cite web |date=13 April 2021 |title=Article: 25 Equality of citizens – the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 Developed by Zain Sheikh |url=https://pakistanconstitutionlaw.com/article-25-equality-of-citizens/ |website=pakistanconstitutionlaw.com}}

(e) Article 26 : Non-discrimination in respect of access to public places.

(f) Article 27 : Safeguard against discrimination in services.

(g) Article 36 : Protection of Minorities.{{cite web |title=FAOLEX |url=https://www.fao.org/faolex/results/details/en/c/LEX-FAOC127521/#:~:text=Whereas%20Article%2036%20provides%20for,the%20Federal%20and%20Provincial%20services%27 |access-date=30 March 2025 |website=FAO}}

(h) Article 38 : Promotion of social and economic well-being of all the people.{{cite web |title=Chapter 2: "Principles of Policy" of Part II: "Fundamental Rights and Principles of Policy" |url=https://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part2.ch2.html |access-date=30 March 2025 |website=pakistani.org}}

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{{further|West Punjab#Religion|North-West Frontier Province#Religion|Baluchistan Agency#Religion|Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)#Religion}}

The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 17,708,014 according to the 1901 census. With the exception of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, all administrative divisions in the region that composes contemporary Pakistan collected religious data, with a combined total population of 17,633,258, for an overall response rate of 99.6 percent. Similar to the contemporary era, where censuses do not collect religious data in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.

{{further|West Punjab#Religion|North-West Frontier Province#Religion|Baluchistan Agency#Religion|Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)#Religion}}

The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 20,428,473 according to the 1911 census. With the exception of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, all administrative divisions in the region that composes contemporary Pakistan collected religious data, with a combined total population of 18,806,379, for an overall response rate of 92.1 percent. Similar to the contemporary era, where censuses do not collect religious data in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.

{{further|West Punjab#Religion|North-West Frontier Province#Religion|Baluchistan Agency#Religion|Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)#Religion}}

The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 22,214,152 according to the 1921 census. With the exception of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, all administrative divisions in the region that composes contemporary Pakistan collected religious data, with a combined total population of 19,389,016, for an overall response rate of 87.3 percent. Similar to the contemporary era, where censuses do not collect religious data in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.

{{further|West Punjab#Religion|North-West Frontier Province#Religion|Baluchistan Agency#Religion|Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)#Religion}}

The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 24,774,056 according to the 1931 census. With the exception of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, all administrative divisions in the region that composes contemporary Pakistan collected religious data, with a combined total population of 22,514,768, for an overall response rate of 90.9 percent. Similar to the contemporary era, where censuses do not collect religious data in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.

{{further|West Punjab#Religion|North-West Frontier Province#Religion|Baluchistan Agency#Religion|Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)#Religion}}

The total population of the region that composes contemporary Pakistan was approximately 29,643,600 according to the final census prior to partition in 1941. With the exception of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, all administrative divisions in the region that composes contemporary Pakistan collected religious data, with a combined total population of 27,266,001, for an overall response rate of 92.0 percent. Similar to the contemporary era, where censuses do not collect religious data in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, the total number of responses for religion is slightly smaller than the total population, as detailed in the table breakdown below.

File:A refugee special train at Ambala Station during partition of India.jpg

{{Pie chart

|thumb = right

|caption = Religion in Pakistan (1951 Official census)

|label1 = Islam

|value1 = 97.1

|color1 = Darkgreen

|label2 = Hinduism

|value2 = 1.6

|color2 = DarkOrange

|label3 = Christianity

|value3 = 1.2

|color3 = Dodgerblue

|label4 = Others

|value4 = 0.1

|color4 = yellow

}}

After partition, when first census of Pakistan was conducted in the year 1951, It was found that the Muslim proportion in West Pakistan (contemporary Pakistan) increased from approximately 77.3 percent according to the 1941 census,{{efn|name=Pakistan1941}} to 97.1 percent as per the 1951 census;{{citation|last=D'Costa|first=Bina|title=Nationbuilding, Gender and War Crimes in South Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivzKjY5LncIC&pg=PA100|year=2011|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-56566-0|pages=100–}} in contrast, the combined Hindu and Sikh proportion in West Pakistan (contemporary Pakistan) decreased from approximately 20.7 percent{{efn|name=Pakistan1941}} to just 1.7 percent during the same timeframe, as the 1947 Partition of India gave rise to bloody rioting and indiscriminate inter-communal killing of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs across the Indian subcontinent, especially in Punjab region. As a result, around 7.3 million Hindus and Sikhs moved to India and 7.2 million Muslims moved to Pakistan permanently, leading to demographic change of both the nations to a certain extent.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tGiSBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA6 |title=Population Redistribution and Development in South Asia |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |year=2012 |isbn=978-9400953093 |page=6 |access-date=7 September 2017}}{{Cite book|last1=Talbot|first1=Ian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=utKmPQAACAAJ|title=The Partition of India|last2=Singh|first2=Gurharpal|date=2009-07-23|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-85661-4|pages=2|language=en}}

As per 2017 Census of Pakistan, the country has a population of 207,684,000.The CCI approved the release of provisional population figures of 207.754 million people. The final results showed the total population of Pakistan to be 207.684 million, a reduction of 68,738 people or 0.033% against provisional results.{{Cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1719994/headcount-finalised-sans-third-party-audit?amp=1|title=Headcount finalised sans third-party audit|date=26 May 2018|website=The Express Tribune}}

As of 2018, there are 3.63 million non-Muslim voters in Pakistan- 1.77 million were Hindus, 1.64 million Christians, 167,505 were Ahmadi, 31,543 were Baháʼís, 8,852 were Sikhs, 4,020 were Parsis, 1,884 were Buddhist and others such as Kalashas.{{cite news |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1410442/number-of-non-muslim-voters-in-pakistan-shows-rise-of-over-30pc|title=Number of non-Muslim voters in Pakistan shows rise of over 30pc|first=Iftikhar A. |last=Khan|newspaper=Dawn|date=28 May 2018|access-date=15 April 2021}} The NADRA makes it nearly impossible to declare and change the religion to anything from Islam making the statistics somewhat misleading.{{cite news |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/363182/losing-your-religion-nadra-should-not-be-deciding-peoples-faith/ |title=Losing your religion?: 'NADRA should not be deciding people's faith' |date=2012-04-12 |newspaper=The Express Tribune |access-date=2018-03-20}}

Pakistan Bureau of Statistics released religious data of Pakistan Census 2017 on 19 May 2021.{{cite web|title=Pakistan's population is 207.68m, shows 2017 census result|date=19 May 2021|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1624375/pakistans-population-is-20768m-shows-2017-census-result}} 96.47% are Muslims, followed by 2.14% Hindus, 1.27% Christians, 0.09% Ahmadis and 0.02% others.

These are some maps of religious minority groups. The 2017 census showed an increasing share in Hinduism, mainly caused by a higher birth rate among the impoverished Hindus of Sindh province. This census also recorded Pakistan's first Hindu-majority district, called Umerkot District, where Muslims were previously the majority.

On the other hand, Christianity in Pakistan, while increasing in raw numbers, has fallen significantly in percentage terms since the last census. This is due to Pakistani Christians having a significantly lower fertility rate than Pakistani Muslims and Pakistani Hindus as well as them being concentrated in the most developed parts of Pakistan, Lahore District (over 5% Christian), Islamabad Capital Territory (over 4% Christian), and Northern Punjab.

The Ahmadiyya movement shrunk in size (both raw numbers and percentage) between 1998 and 2017, while remaining concentrated in Lalian Tehsil, Chiniot District, where approximately 13% of the population is Ahmadi.

Here are some maps of Pakistan's religious minority groups as of the 2017 census by district:

File:Hindu Proportion by Pakistani District - 2017 Census.svg|Hindu proportion of each Pakistani District of each Pakistani District as of the 2017 Pakistan Census

File:Christian Proportion by Pakistani District - 2017 Census.svg|Christian proportion of each Pakistani District of each Pakistani District as of the 2017 Pakistan Census

File:Qadiani Proportion by Pakistani District - 2017 Census.svg|Ahmadiyya proportion of each Pakistani District of each Pakistani District as of the 2017 Pakistan Census

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{{Main|Islam in Pakistan}}

File:Faisal Mosque by M Ali Mir.jpg in Islamabad, which is the largest mosque of Pakistan and is also one of the largest in the world, was built by King Faisal of Saudi Arabia.]]

Islam is the state religion of Pakistan, and about 96–98% of Pakistanis are Muslim. Pakistan has the second largest number of Muslims in the world after Indonesia.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pbqfCwAAQBAJ&q=pakistan+has+second+largest+muslim+population+in+the+world&pg=PT5|title=Islam in India and Pakistan – A Religious History|last=Singh|first=Y P|publisher=Vij Books India Pvt Ltd|year=2016|isbn=9789385505638|quote=Pakistan has the second largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia.}} The majority are Sunni (estimated at 80-90%),{{cite web|url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Pakistan.pdf|title=Country Profile: Pakistan|date=February 2005|work=Library of Congress Country Studies on Pakistan|publisher=Library of Congress|access-date=2010-09-01|quote=About 97 percent of Pakistanis are Muslim, 80–90 percent of whom are Sunni and 10–20 percent Shia}} with an estimated 10-20% Shia.{{cite web|url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Pakistan.pdf|title=Country Profile: Pakistan|year=2005|publisher=Library of Congress|pages=2, 3, 6, 8|access-date=28 December 2011}} A PEW survey in 2012 found that 6% of Pakistani Muslims were Shia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2012/08/09/the-worlds-muslims-unity-and-diversity-executive-summary/|title=The World's Muslims: Unity and Diversity|date=2012-08-09|website=Pew Research Center|access-date=2018-03-20|quote=On the other hand, in Pakistan, where 6% of the survey respondents identify as Shia, Sunni attitudes are more mixed: 50% say Shias are Muslims, while 41% say they are not.}} There are a number of Islamic law schools called Madhab (schools of jurisprudence), which are called fiqh or 'Maktab-e-Fikr' in Urdu. Nearly all Pakistani Sunni Muslims belong to the Hanafi Islamic school of thought, while a small number belong to the Hanbali school. The majority of Pakistani Shia Muslims belong to the Twelver (Ithna Asharia) branch, with significant minority who adhere to Ismailism branch that is composed of Nizari (Aga Khanis), Mustaali, Dawoodi Bohra, Sulaymani, and others.{{cite news|url=http://herald.dawn.com/news/1153276/heart-of-darkness-shia-resistance-and-revival-in-pakistan|title=Heart of darkness: Shia resistance and revival in Pakistan|work=Herald|date=2015-10-29|access-date=2018-03-20}} Sufis and above mentioned Sunni and Shia sects are considered to be Muslims according to the Constitution of Pakistan; the Ahmadiyya (though self-described Muslims) are specifically declared not to be.

The mosque is an important religious as well as social institution in Pakistan.Malik, Jamal. Islam in South Asia: A Short History. Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2008.{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1080/1683478X.2015.1055543|title = An anthropological perspective on the mosque in Pakistan|journal = Asian Anthropology|volume = 14|issue = 2|pages = 166–181|year = 2015|last1 = Mughal|first1 = Muhammad Aurang Zeb|s2cid = 54051524|url = http://dro.dur.ac.uk/16438/1/16438.pdf}} Many rituals and ceremonies are celebrated according to Islamic calendar.

There are two major Sunni sects in Pakistan, the Barelvi movement and Deobandi movement. Statistics regarding Pakistan's sects and sub-sects have been called "tenuous",{{cite book |title=A New Era of Sectarian Violence in Pakistan |date=2022 |publisher=International Crisis Group |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep42808.7 |access-date=20 July 2023 |author=International Crisis Group |pages=Page 8–Page 14 }} but estimates of the sizes of the two groups give a slight majority of Pakistan's population to followers of the Barelvi school, while 15–25% are thought to follow the Deobandi school of jurisprudence.{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2009/05/Reviving-Pakistans-Pluralist-Traditions-to-Fight-Extremism |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322140255/http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2009/05/Reviving-Pakistans-Pluralist-Traditions-to-Fight-Extremism |url-status=unfit |archive-date=22 March 2010 | title=Reviving Pakistan's Pluralist Traditions to Fight Extremism | last1=Curtis |first1=Lisa |last2=Mullick |first2=Haider |date=4 May 2009 |access-date=2011-07-31 |publisher=The Heritage Foundation}}{{cite web |last=Pike |first=John |date=5 July 2011 |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/islam-barelvi.htm |title=Barelvi Islam |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |access-date=25 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031208063014/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/islam-barelvi.htm |archive-date=8 December 2003 |url-status=live |quote=By one estimate, in Pakistan, the Shias are 18%, Ismailis 2%, Ahmediyas 2%, Barelvis 50%, Deobandis 20%, Ahle Hadith 4%, and other minorities 4%. [...] By another estimate some 15% of Pakistan's Sunni Muslims would consider themselves Deobandi, and some 60% are in the Barelvi tradition based mostly in the province of Punjab. But some 64% of the total seminaries are run by Deobandis, 25% by the Barelvis, 6% by the Ahle Hadith and 3% by various Shiite organisations.}}{{cite book |title=A New Era of Sectarian Violence in Pakistan |date=2022 |publisher=International Crisis Group |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep42808.7 |access-date=20 July 2023 |quote=Sunni Barelvis are believed to constitute a thin majority of the population |author=International Crisis Group |pages=Page 8–Page 14 }}

However, the Hanbali school is also gaining popularity due to Ahl-i Hadith movement and also recent Wahhabi and Salafi movement influence from the Middle East.

File:Shrine Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Sehwan Shareef, Sindh, Pakistan.jpg|left]]

Islam to some extent syncretized with pre-Islamic influences, resulting in a religion with some traditions distinct from those of the Arab world. Two Sufis whose shrines receive much national attention are Ali Hajweri in Lahore (ca. 11th century) and Shahbaz Qalander in Sehwan, Sindh (ca. 12th century).{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}} Sufism, a mystical Islamic tradition, promoted by Fariduddin Ganjshakar in Pakpatan, has a long history and a large popular following in Pakistan. Popular Sufi culture is centered on Thursday night gatherings at shrines and annual festivals which feature Sufi music and dance. Contemporary Islamic fundamentalists criticize its popular character, which in their view, does not accurately reflect the teachings and practice of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his companions. There have been terrorist attacks directed at Sufi shrines and festivals, 5 in 2010 that killed 64 people.{{cite news|title=Sufism Under Attack in Pakistan|url=http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/01/06/world/asia/1248069532117/sufism-under-attack-in-pakistan.html|access-date=21 May 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Charlotte|last=Buchen|format=video|archive-date=28 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528051803/http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/01/06/world/asia/1248069532117/sufism-under-attack-in-pakistan.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=The Islam That Hard-Liners Hate|url=http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/the-islam-that-hard-liners-hate/|access-date=2018-03-20|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2011-01-06|first1=Huma|last1=Imtiaz|first2=Charlotte|last2=Buchen|format=blog}}

{{Main|Ahmadiyya in Pakistan}}

File:Yadgar Masjid.jpg of Rabwah]]

According to the last Census in Pakistan, Ahmadi Muslim made up 0.07% of the population; however, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community boycotted the census. Independent groups generally estimate the population to be somewhere between two and five million Ahmadi Muslims. In media reports, four million is the most commonly cited figure.The 1998 Pakistani census states that there are 291,000 (0.22%) Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan. However, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community has boycotted the census since 1974 which renders official Pakistani figures to be inaccurate. Independent groups have estimated the Pakistani Ahmadiyya Muslim population to be somewhere between 2 million and 5 million Ahmadi Muslims. However, the 4 million figure is the most quoted figure and is approximately 2.2% of the country. See:

• over 2 million: {{cite web|date=2008-12-04|title=Pakistan: The situation of Ahmadi Muslims, including legal status and political, education and employment rights; societal attitudes toward Ahmadi Muslims (2006 – Nov. 2008)|url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/49913b5f2c.html|access-date=2018-03-20}}
• 3 million: International Federation for Human Rights: International Fact-Finding Mission. Freedoms of Expression, of Association and of Assembly in Pakistan. Ausgabe 408/2, Januar 2005, S. 61 ([http://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/pk408a-2.pdf PDF])
• 3–4 million: Commission on International Religious Freedom: Annual Report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. 2005, S. 130
• 4.910.000: James Minahan: Encyclopedia of the stateless nations. Ethnic and national groups around the world. Greenwood Press . Westport 2002, page 52
• {{cite web|title=Pakistan: Situation of members of the Lahori Ahmadiyya Movement in Pakistan|url=http://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=country&category=&publisher=IRBC&type=QUERYRESPONSE&coi=PAK&rid=&docid=45f1478f20&skip=0|access-date=2018-03-20}}

In 1974, the government of Pakistan amended the Constitution of Pakistan to define a Muslim according to Qu'ran 33:40,{{Cite web|url=https://quran.com/33/40|title = Surah Al-Ahzab – 40}} as a person who believes in finality of Muhammad under the Ordinance XX. According to Ordinance XX, Ahmadi Muslims cannot call themselves Muslim or "pose as Muslims" which is punishable by three years in prison.{{cite web|title=Ordinance No. XX of 1984|url=http://www.thepersecution.org/50years/paklaw.html|access-date=14 November 2011|publisher=The Persecution}} Ahmadi Muslims believe in Muhammad as the final law-bearing prophet, but also believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad to be a prophet, the prophecised Mehdi and second coming of Jesus. Consequently, Ahmadi Muslims were declared non-Muslims by a parliamentary tribunal and are subject to persecution under Pakistani blasphemy laws.

{{Main|Hinduism in Pakistan}}

File:Hawan at Hinglaj Mata (Rani ki Mandir) During Yanglaj Yatra 2017 Photo by Aliraza Khatri.jpg shakti peetha is the largest Hindu pilgrimage centre in Pakistan. The annual Hinglaj Yathra is attended by more than 250,000 people.{{cite news |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1088366/mata-hinglaj-yatra-to-hingol-a-pilgrimage-to-reincarnation/?amp=1 |title=Mata Hinglaj Yatra: To Hingol, a pilgrimage to reincarnation |first=Ali |last=Xafar |newspaper=The Express Tribune |date=2016-04-20 |access-date=2019-11-16}}]]

Hinduism is the second largest religion affiliation in Pakistan after Islam.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/other/yearbook2011/Population/16-16.pdf|title=Population Distribution by Religion, 1998 Census|website=Pakistan Bureau of Statistics|access-date=26 December 2016}} As of 2020, Pakistan has the fourth largest Hindu population in the world after India, Nepal and Bangladesh.{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/countries-with-the-largest-hindu-populations.html|title = Countries with the Largest Hindu Populations|date = 15 January 2019}} According to the 1998 Census, the Hindu population was found to be 2,111,271 (including 332,343 scheduled castes Hindus). While according to latest census of 2017, There are 4.4 million Hindus in Pakistan out of 207.68 million total population comprising 2.14% of the country's population of both General and Schedule caste. Hindus are found in all provinces of Pakistan but are mostly concentrated in Sindh. About 93% of Hindus live in Sindh, 5% in Punjab and nearly 2% in Balochistan.{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov.pk/Religion.htm|title=Population by religion|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402081116/http://www.census.gov.pk/Religion.htm|archive-date=2014-04-02|url-status=dead}} They speak a variety of languages such as Sindhi, Seraiki, Aer, Dhatki, Gera, Goaria, Gurgula, Jandavra, Kabutra, Koli, Loarki, Marwari, Sansi, Vaghri{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/country/PK/languages|title=Pakistan|website=Ethnologue|access-date=2018-03-20}} and Gujarati.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/57104-with-a-handful-of-subberstwo-newspapers-barely-keeping-gujarati-alive-in-karachi|title=With a handful of subbers, two newspapers barely keeping Gujarati alive in Karachi|last=Rehman|first=Zia Ur|date=2015-08-18|work=The News International|quote=In Pakistan, the majority of Gujarati-speaking communities are in Karachi including Dawoodi Bohras, Ismaili Khojas, Memons, Kathiawaris, Katchhis, Parsis (Zoroastrians) and Hindus, said Gul Hasan Kalmati, a researcher who authored “Karachi, Sindh Jee Marvi”, a book discussing the city and its indigenous communities. Although there are no official statistics available, community leaders claim that there are three million Gujarati-speakers in Karachi – roughly around 15 percent of the city’s entire population.|access-date=2018-03-20}}

The Rig Veda, the oldest Hindu text, is believed to have been composed in the Punjab region in the Indian subcontinent around 1500 BCE{{cite news|title=Rigveda {{!}} Hindu literature|newspaper=Encyclopedia Britannica|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/503627/Rigveda|access-date=2018-03-20}} and spread from there across South and South East Asia slowly developing and evolving into the various forms of the faith we see today.{{Cite book |last=Bronkhorst |first=Johannes |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zFlijwEACAAJ |title=How the Brahmins Won: From Alexander to the Guptas |date=2016 |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-31519-8 |pages=9–10 |language=en}}

Many ancient Hindu temples are located throughout Pakistan. A significant Hindu pilgrimage site known as Hinglaj Mata takes place in southern Balochistan, where over 250,000 people visit during spring as a pilgrimage.

Cases collected by Global Human Rights Defence show that underage Hindu (and Christian) girls are often targeted by Muslims for forced conversion to Islam.{{Cite report |url=https://ghrdorg.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/report-ghrd-2019.pdf |title=GHRD Human Rights Report 2019 |date=7 March 2019 |publisher=Global Human Rights Defence |access-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190919041633/https://ghrdorg.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/report-ghrd-2019.pdf |archive-date=19 September 2019 |url-status=unfit}} According to the National Commission of Justice and Peace and the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) around 1,000 non-Muslim minority women are converted to Islam and then forcibly married off to their abductors or rapists.{{cite web|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/116289/forced-conversions-of-pakistani-hindu-girls/|title=Forced conversions of Pakistani Hindu girls|date=19 September 2017|access-date=20 January 2019}}{{cite news|date=January 3, 2017|title=Pakistan: Islamists angry at new law against forced conversions|work=FRANCE 24 English|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzWccBKk5eI| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/rzWccBKk5eI| archive-date=2021-11-18 | url-status=live|access-date=1 October 2020}}{{cbignore}}

{{Main|Christianity in Pakistan}}

File:Church Sacred Heart.jpg]]

Christians ({{langx|ur|مسيحى، عیسائی}}) make up 1.3% of Pakistan's population.{{cite web|url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Pakistan.pdf|title=Country Profile: Pakistan|date=February 2005|work=Library of Congress Country Studies on Pakistan|publisher=Library of Congress|access-date=2010-09-01}} The majority of the Pakistani Christian community consists of Punjabis who converted during the British colonial era and their descendants. In British colonial India, there were waves of conversions to Christianity among the Chuhra and Chamar between the 1870s and 1930s in the Punjab Province and United Provinces of Agra and Oudh.{{cite book |last1=Frykenberg |first1=Robert Eric |title=Christianity in India: From Beginnings to the Present |date=26 June 2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-826377-7 |page=240 |language=en}} Christians mainly live in the urban centres of Punjab. There is also a Roman Catholic community in Karachi which was established by Goan and Tamil migrants when Karachi's infrastructure was being developed between the two World Wars. A few Protestant groups conduct missions in Pakistan. The present Christian population in Pakistan is ranged between 2 and 3 million as per as recent (2020–21) year estimation by various institution and NGOs of Pakistan.{{cite web| url = https://www.refworld.org/docid/5ba0ae0e7.html| title = Refworld {{!}} World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples – Pakistan : Christians}}

There are a number of church-run schools in Pakistan that admit students of all religions, including Forman Christian College,{{cite web |last1=Najam |first1=Adil |title=Forman Christian (F.C.) College's Political Clout |url=https://pakistaniat.com/2008/03/30/forman-christian-fc-colleges-political-clout/ |website=Pakistaniat |date=30 March 2008 |access-date=7 October 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Bangash |first1=Yaqoob Khan |title=FC College: an amazing transformation |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/256440/fc-college-an-amazing-transformation/ |newspaper=The Express Tribune |access-date=7 October 2019}} St. Patrick's Institute of Science & Technology and Saint Joseph's College for Women, Karachi.

{{Main|Sikhism in Pakistan}}

File:Gurdwara Janam Asthan (151719).jpg, the birthplace of the founder of Sikhism in Nankana Sahib]]

In the 15th century, the Sikh faith was born in the Punjab region (of present day India and Pakistan) where Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak was born. Home to some of the world's most sacred gurdwaras, Sikhs have a become a crucial part in Pakistan's religious tourism with large numbers coming to the country particularly during festivals. Aside from religious tourists, estimates on the Sikh population permanently residing in Pakistan vary due to the community being excluded from the national census up until 2023 which marks the first inclusion of Sikhs in census data since partition (where almost 99% fled to India).{{Cite news |date=2022-12-15 |title=Pakistan census to have column for Sikhs |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amritsar/pakistan-census-to-have-column-for-sikhs/articleshow/96239035.cms |access-date=2023-08-17 |issn=0971-8257}} The results of the 2023 Census of Pakistan thus are significant in the first official Sikh count since the formation of Pakistan as a sovereign nation.

In a news article published in December 2022, there was an estimated 30,000–35,000 Sikhs in Pakistan according to Gurpal Singh.{{Cite web |last=Rana |first=Yudhvir |date=December 15, 2022 |title=Pakistan census to have column for Sikhs {{!}} Amritsar News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amritsar/pakistan-census-to-have-column-for-sikhs/articleshow/96239035.cms |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=The Times of India |language=en |quote=He said roughly there were around 30,000-35,000 Sikhs in Pakistan.}} Other sources, including the US Department of State, claim the Sikh population in Pakistan to be at 20,000.{{cite web |date=17 April 2015 |title=Pakistan's dwindling Sikh community wants improved security |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1176521 |access-date=16 December 2018 |website=Dawn.com}}{{cite web |date=14 September 2007 |title=Pakistan |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90233.htm |access-date=2010-08-13 |website=State.gov}} Though full community counts have not yet been available, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) does provide the numbers of eligible voters belonging to minority religions (registered in electoral rolls):

• 2013: 5,934 Sikh Voters {{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Iftikhar A. |date=2018-05-28 |title=Number of non-Muslim voters in Pakistan shows rise of over 30pc |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1410442 |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}
• 2018: 8,852 Sikh Voters

In recent years, their numbers have increased with many Sikhs migrating from neighboring Afghanistan who have joined their co-religionists in Pakistan.{{cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108505.htm|title=Pakistan – International Religious Freedom Report 2008|work=United States Department of State|date=19 September 2008|access-date=2010-08-28}}

{{Main|Baháʼí Faith in Pakistan}}

The Baháʼí Faith in Pakistan was present when it was still under British colonial rule. The roots of the religion in the region go back to the first days of the Bábí religion in 1844,{{cite web |year=2003 |title=The Bahá'í Faith -Brief History |url=http://www.bahaindia.org/intro/history.html |access-date=2018-03-20 |work=Official Website of the National Spiritual Assembly of India |publisher=National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of India}} with Shaykh Sa'id Hindi who was from Multan.{{cite web |year=2008 |title=History of the Bahá'í Faith in Pakistan |url=http://www.bahai.pk/eng/history/historyPak.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514170041/http://www.bahai.pk/eng/history/historyPak.html |archive-date=2013-05-14 |access-date=2018-03-20 |work=Official Webpage of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Pakistan |publisher=National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Pakistan}} During Bahá'u'lláh's lifetime, as founder of the religion, he encouraged some of his followers to move to the area that is present day Pakistan.{{cite encyclopedia |title=Bahá'í History |encyclopedia=Draft A Short Encyclopedia of the Baha'i Faith |publisher=Bahá'í Library Online |url=http://bahai-library.com/encyclopedia_history |access-date=2018-03-20 |last2=Smith |first2=Peter |last1=Momen |first1=Moojan}}

The Baháʼís in Pakistan have the right to hold public meetings, establish academic centers, teach their faith, and elect their administrative councils.{{cite web |last=Wardany |first=Youssef |year=2009 |title=The Right of Belief in Egypt: Case study of Baha'i minority |url=http://www.alwaref.org/en/accueil/39-human-rights/89-the-right-of-belief-in-egypt-case-study-of-bahai-minority |access-date=2018-03-20 |publisher=Al Waref Institute |archive-date=15 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315233147/http://alwaref.org/en/accueil/39-human-rights/89-the-right-of-belief-in-egypt-case-study-of-bahai-minority |url-status=dead }} Bahá'í sources claim their population to be around 30,000.{{cite web |last=Wagner |first=Ralph D. |title=Pakistan |url=http://bahai-library.com/documents/hr/hr-pakistan.htm |access-date=2018-03-20 |work=Synopsis of References to the Bahá'í Faith, in the US State Department's Reports on Human Rights 1991–2000 |publisher=Bahá'í Academics Resource Library |archive-date=14 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314092253/http://bahai-library.com/documents/hr/hr-pakistan.htm |url-status=dead }} Shoba Das of Minority Rights Group International reported around 200 Baháʼís in Islamabad and between 2,000 and 3,000 Baháʼís in Pakistan, in 2013.{{Cite journal |last=Das |first=Shobha |date=2013-04-10 |title=A Pakistani Baha'i's story |url=https://minorityrights.org/2013/04/10/a-pakistani-bahais-story/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817012135/https://minorityrights.org/2013/04/10/a-pakistani-bahais-story/ |archive-date=August 17, 2020 |access-date=2020-11-22 |journal=Blog |language=en-GB}} One more PhD thesis says that "It is an assumption that the Bahá’ís do not want to declare their exact population, which is supposed to be more or less 3,000 in total". Most of these Bahá’ís have their roots in Iran.{{Cite thesis |title=Religious and SOcial Life of Religious Minorities |url=http://prr.hec.gov.pk/jspui/handle/123456789/8000 |publisher=International Islamic University |location=Islamabad, Pakistan |date=2015 |degree=Thesis |language=en |first=Abdul |last=Fareed}}

{{Further|Parsi people}}

File:Bvs 608.jpg, Karachi|left]]

There are at least 4,000 Pakistani citizens practicing the Zoroastrian religion.{{cite news |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/430059/over-35000-buddhists-bahais-call-pakistan-home/ |title=Over 35,000 Buddhists, Baha'is call Pakistan home |first=Irfan |last=Ghauri |newspaper=The Express Tribune |date=2012-09-02 |access-date=2018-03-20}} The region of Balochistan is believed to have been a stronghold of Zoroastrianism before the advent of Islam.{{Cite book |last=Zeb |first=Rizwan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NvrDDwAAQBAJ&dq=balochistan+zoroastrianism&pg=PT63 |title=Ethno-political Conflict in Pakistan: The Baloch Movement |date=2019-12-12 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-000-72992-4 |pages=63 |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last1=Boyajian |first1=Vahe S. |date=19 December 2016 |title=Is There an Ethno-religious Aspect in Balochi Identity? |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/ic/20/3-4/article-p397_10.xml |journal=Iran and the Caucasus |volume=20 |issue=3–4 |pages=397–405 |doi=10.1163/1573384X-20160309 |access-date=2022-04-21}} With the flight of Zoroastrians from Greater Iran into the Indian subcontinent, the Parsi communities were established. More recently, from the 15th century onwards, Zorastrians came to settle the coast of Sindh and have established thriving communities and commercial enterprises. At the time of independence of Pakistan in 1947, Karachi and Lahore were home to a thriving Parsi business community. Karachi had the most prominent population of Parsis in Pakistan, though their population is declining.{{Cite web |title='Two decades from now, Pakistan will have no Parsis' |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/464419-two-decades-from-now-pakistan-will-have-no-parsis |access-date=2022-12-25 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-12-13 |title=In a shrinking community, one Parsi family chooses Pakistan |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2117332/shrinking-community-one-parsi-family-chooses-pakistan |access-date=2022-12-25 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} Parsis have entered Pakistani public life as social workers, business folk, journalists and diplomats. The most prominent Parsis of Pakistan today include Ardeshir Cowasjee, Byram Dinshawji Avari, Jamsheed Marker, as well as Minocher Bhandara. The founding father of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, married Ratti Bai who belonged to a Parsi family before her conversion to Islam.{{cite web|url=http://www.pakistan.gov.pk/Quaid/life_quaid05.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024215548/http://www.pakistan.gov.pk/Quaid/life_quaid05.htm|archive-date=2008-10-24|title=Quaid i Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah: Early days|publisher=Government of Pakistan|url-status=dead}}

{{Main|Kalash people}}

File:Kalasha village guardians.JPG

The Kalash people practise a form of ancient Hinduism{{cite book|last=West|first=Barbara A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pCiNqFj3MQsC&pg=PA357|title=Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania|date=19 May 2010|publisher=Infobase Publishing|language=en|isbn=9781438119137|page=357|quote=The Kalasha are a unique people living in just three valleys near Chitral, Pakistan, the capital of North-West Frontier Province, which borders Afghanistan. Unlike their neighbors in the Hindu Kush Mountains on both the Afghani and Pakistani sides of the border the Kalasha have not converted to Islam. During the mid-20th century a few Kalasha villages in Pakistan were forcibly converted to this dominant religion, but the people fought the conversion and once official pressure was removed the vast majority continued to practice their own religion. Their religion is a form of Hinduism that recognizes many gods and spirits and has been related to the religion of the Ancient Greeks, who mythology says are the ancestors of the contemporary Kalash… However, it is much more likely, given their Indo-Aryan language, that the religion of the Kalasha is much more closely aligned to the Hinduism of their Indian neighbors that to the religion of Alexander the Great and his armies.}} mixed with animism.{{cite book|first=Sean|last=Sheehan|title=Pakistan|url=https://archive.org/details/pakistan00shee_0|url-access=registration|date=1 October 1993|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|isbn=978-1-85435-583-6|quote=The Kalash people are small in number, hardly exceeding 3,000, but they ... and as well as having their own language and costume, they practice animism (the worship of spirits in nature)...}} Adherents of the Kalash religion number around 3,000 and inhabit three remote valleys in Chitral; Bumboret, Rumbur and Birir. Their religion has been compared to that of ancient Greece, but they are much closer to the Hindu traditions in other parts of the Indian subcontinent. It is more similar to the historical Vedic religion, than later forms of Hinduism.{{citation |first=Michael |last=Witzel |author-link=Michael Witzel |chapter=Kalash Religion (extract from 'The Ṛgvedic Religious System and its Central Asian and Hindukush Antecedents') |editor1=A. Griffiths |editor2=J. E. M. Houben |title=The Vedas: Texts, Language and Ritual |location=Groningen |publisher=Forsten |year=2004 |pages=581–636 |chapter-url=http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~witzel/KalashaReligion.pdf}}

{{Main|Jainism in Pakistan}}

File:SirkapJainTemple.JPG at Sirkap, part of the Indo-Greek kingdom, near modern-day Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan]]

Several ancient Jain shrines are scattered across the country.{{cite news |last=Khalid |first=Haroon |date=4 September 2016 |title=Sacred geography: Why Hindus, Buddhist, Jains, Sikhs should object to Pakistan being called hell |work=Dawn |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1282025/ |access-date=4 September 2016}} Baba Dharam Dass was a holy man whose tomb is located near the bank of a creek called (Deoka or Deokay or Degh) near Chawinda Phatic, behind the agricultural main office in Pasrur, near the city of Sialkot in Punjab, Pakistan. Another prominent Jain monk of the region was Vijayanandsuri of Gujranwala, whose samadhi (memorial shrine) still stands in the city.

{{Main|Buddhism in Pakistan}}

File:A_statue_of_buddha_with_a_hole_in_the_navel.jpg, Taxila) with a hole in the navel is an odd artifact. It is called the "Healing Buddha". Buddhist pilgrims put their fings in the navel hole and pray for the ailment of the patients.]]

Buddhism has an ancient history in Pakistan; currently there is a small community of at least 1,500 Pakistani Buddhists in the country. The country is dotted with numerous ancient and disused Buddhist stupas along the entire breadth of the Indus River that courses through the heart of the country. Many Buddhist empires and city states existed, notably in Gandhara but also elsewhere in Taxila, Punjab and Sindh.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8wM-dNOa7fMC|first=Arthur Anthony |last=Macdonell|title=A History of Sanskrit Literature|isbn=9788120800953|date=31 December 1997|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. }}

The number of Buddhist voters was 1,884 in 2017 and are mostly concentrated in Sindh and Punjab.{{cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pakistan-elections-non-muslim-voters-up-by-30-hindus-biggest-minority/story-gRmBeL4TaBBgY6ZTURRA7M.html |title=Pakistan elections: Non-Muslim voters up by 30%, Hindus biggest minority |first=Imtiaz |last=Ahmad |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=2018-05-28 |access-date=2020-10-05}}

{{Main|Jews and Judaism in Pakistan}}

Various estimates suggest that there were about 1,500 Jews living in Pakistan at the time of its independence on 14 August 1947, with the majority living in Karachi and a few living in Peshawar. However, almost all emigrated to Israel after 1948. There are a few disused synagogues in both cities; while one Karachi synagogue was torn down for the construction of a shopping mall. The one in Peshawar still exists, although the building is not being used for any religious purpose. There is a small Jewish community of Pakistani origin settled in Ramla, Israel.

One Pakistani, Faisal Khalid (a.k.a. Fishel Benkhald) of Karachi claims to be Pakistan's only Jew.{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/227964|title=Brothers of Pakistani man claiming to be Jewish call him insane|website=Israel National News|date=9 April 2017 |access-date=2018-03-20}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vosizneias.com/267071|title=Karachi, Pakistan – Brothers Of Pakistani Man Claiming Jewish Roots Call Him 'Insane'|website=VosIzNeias|access-date=2018-03-20|archive-date=1 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801190105/https://www.vosizneias.com/267071|url-status=dead}} He claimed that his mother is Jewish (making him Jewish by Jewish custom) but, his father is a Muslim. Pakistani authorities have issued him a passport which stated Judaism as his religion and have allowed him to travel to Israel.{{cite news|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/world-news/150205/pakistans-last-jew-battle-win-empathy|title=Pakistan's last Jew in battle to win 'empathy'|first=Simon|last=Caldwell|date=2015-11-26|access-date=2018-03-20}}{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/848760/last-jew-in-pakistan-beaten-by-mob-arrested/|title='Last Jew in Pakistan' beaten by mob, arrested|work=Express Tribune|date=2015-03-06|access-date=2018-03-20}}{{cite news|url=http://www.jta.org/2017/04/09/news-opinion/world/brothers-of-pakistani-man-claiming-jewish-roots-call-him-insane|title=Brothers of Pakistani man claiming Jewish roots call him 'insane'|date=2017-04-09|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|access-date=2018-03-20}}

{{Main|Irreligion in Pakistan}}

Irreligion is present among a minority of mainly young people in Pakistan. There are people who do not profess any faith (such as atheists and agnostics) in Pakistan, but their numbers are not known.{{cite news|url=http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/09/being-pakistani-and-atheist-a-dangerous-combo-but-some-ready-to-brave-it/|title=Being Pakistani and atheist a dangerous combo, but some ready to brave it|work=Pakistan Today|date=2011-09-17|access-date=2018-03-20}} They are particularly in the affluent areas of the larger cities. Some were born in secular families while others in religious ones. According to the 1998 census, people who did not state their religion accounted for 0.5% of the population, but social pressure against claiming no religion was strong. A 2012 study by Gallup Pakistan found that people not affiliated to any religion account for 1% of the population.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com.pk/Polls/240712.pdf|title = Gallup Pakistan – Pakistan's Foremost Research Lab}} Many atheists in Pakistan have been lynched and imprisoned over unsubstantiated allegations of blasphemy. When the state initiated a full-fledged crackdown on atheism since 2017, it has become worse with secular bloggers being kidnapped and the government running advertisements urging people to identify blasphemers among them and the highest judges declaring such people to be terrorists.{{cite news|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/pakistan-s-forced-conversions-brings-shame-on-imran-khan|title=Pakistan's forced conversions shame Imran Khan|first=Kunwar Khuldune|last=Shahid|date=11 June 2020|publisher=The Spectator|access-date=2 September 2020}}

{{Main|Freedom of religion in Pakistan}}

A few aspects of secularism have also been adopted by Pakistani constitution from British colonial concept.{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Pakistan, Islam in |encyclopedia=The Oxford Dictionary of Islam |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York, New York |date=2003 |editor-last=Esposito |editor-first=John L. |page=242 |isbn=0-19-512558-4 |quote=Approximately 97 percent of Pakistanis are Muslim. The majority are Sunnis following the Hanafi school of Islamic law. Between 10 and 15 percent are Shiis, mostly Twelvers.}}Information on other countries: http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_20072008_EN_Complete.pdf {{page needed|date=October 2011}}{{cite web |title=Population: 174,578,558 (July 2010 est.) |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html?countryName=Pakistan&countryCode=pk®ionCode=sas&#pk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617014559/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html?countryName=Pakistan&countryCode=PK®ionCode=sas&#pk |archive-date=17 June 2009 |access-date=2010-08-28 |work=Central Intelligence Agency |publisher=The World Factbook on Pakistan}} In 2022, Freedom House rated Pakistan’s religious freedom as 1 out of 4,[https://www.freedomhouse.org/country/pakistan/freedom-world/2022 Freedom House, Retrieved 2023-04-25] noting that the blasphemy laws are often exploited by religious vigilantes and also curtail the freedom of expression by Christians and Muslims, especially Ahmadi Muslims. Hindus have spoken of vulnerability to kidnapping and forced conversions. Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country of about 220 million, is often under fire for crimes against members of its religious minorities, including Christians, Ahmadi and Shi’ite Muslims, and Hindus.{{Cite web |title=Pakistan: How real is freedom of religion? {{!}} Special Report {{!}} thenews.com.pk |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/596499-how-real-is-freedom-of-religion |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-06-30 |title=Pakistan and religious freedom |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/421524/pakistan-and-religious-freedom/ |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=Daily Times |language=en-US}}

{{Portal|Religion|Pakistan}}

• Blasphemy law in Pakistan
• Demographics of Pakistan
• List of religious populations
• Major religious groups
• Religious Minorities in Pakistan
• Shamanism in Pakistan
• Freedom of religion in Pakistan
• Pakistan National Commission for Minorities
• Secularism in Pakistan

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• {{Official website|http://www.mora.gov.pk|name=Ministry of Religious Affairs}} – (Government of Pakistan) Official website

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Category:Religious demographics

pt:Paquistão#Religião