Addressing the first session of the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan the Quaid-e-Azam observed:
"You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any places of worship in the state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or cast or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the state."
This pronouncement of the Quaid affirms minorities rights as well as indirectly reminds the non-Muslim citizens of their responsibilities as equal citizens of Pakistan.
According to democratic principle the character of a state is determined by the majority will of its citizens: Since the Muslims form 97 percent of the population of Pakistan our legal and political system should be based on Islamic principles, but this does not imply that the non-Muslims will be treated as second rate citizens of the state. The Quaid-e-Azam had already made it clear that no distinction will be made on the basis of religion. In parliamentary democracy the Muslims and the non-Muslims have equal citizenship rights.
It must be acknowledged that the role of non-Muslim minorities in Pakistan movement was no less important than that of the Muslims. The non-Muslims knew that in a Muslim state their culture, language, personal law, religious institutions and places of worship will be fully protected.
During the days of our freedom movement the untouchable (achhoot) leader Dr. B.R Ambedkar wrote excellent book to plead the Muslims case for a separate homeland. Hehimself could not shift to Pakistan but his able disciple Joginder Nath Mandal served as law minister in Quaid-e-Azam's first cabinet. Pakistan's first foreign minister Sir Muhammad Zafar Ullah Khan belonged to a sect, which was later declared non-Muslim minority. In the early days of Pakistan victor Alfred Charles Turner played vital role in setting up civi services structure. He was also the first finance secretary of Pakistan. The non-Muslim citizens started serving Pakistan with great patriotic spirit after the creation of Pakistan. They served in the armed forces and the judiciary on highest positions and set memorable examples of honesty and professional responsibility.
Group Capt. Cecil Chaudhry defended the country in 1965 and 1971 wars as Pakistan Air Force officer and was decorated with Tamgha-e-Jurat and Sitara-e-Jurat. Wing commander Mervyn Middlecoat fought bravely and laid his life in 1971 Indo Pakistan war. J.W. Jafford (Naval Chief) have also rendered great services for the defense of the motherland. Justice A.R Cornelius did scholarly research on Islamic jurisprudence and dispelled the misunderstanding of international scholars about Islamic law. Justice Rana Bhagwan Das and Justice Dorab Patel are the pride of Pakistan's judiciary. In short the non-Muslim citizens rendered great services for their motherland, following are a few more examples: Aradeshir Cawas Ji, (journalist), Dr. Abdussalam (physicst, nobel laureate), Raja Tredev Roy (minister) Jogindarnath Mandal (minister), J. Salik (minister) Shehbaz Bhatti (minister) Sworan Singh (minister), Nancy Nasim (principle I.C.G. Islamabad). Karan Singh (writer) Azam Meraj (writer) Anita Campher (actress) Benjamin Sisters (singer). Iron Parveen (singer). F.E Chaudhry (painter), Chitra pritam (painter), Dr. Ruth Pfau (leprosy eradication activist) Mrs. Calara Pasha (Principal Nursing College, Islamabad). Prominent among the writers who were decorated with Tamgha-e-Imtiaz are Kanwal Feroz and Nasreen Anjum Bhatti. There is an unending list of non-Muslim heroes who earned honour for the motherland in different walks of life especially trade and sports.
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