Pakistan’s first democratic constitution was passed in 1973, after more than a quarter century of independence. It declared Pakistan to be an “Islamic Republic”. Earlier constitutional frameworks had oscillated from an “Islamic Republic” (1956) to simply a “Republic” (1962), before swinging back to “Islamic” in 1973.

The religious provisions in the constitution were meant to ensure that all laws would henceforth conform to the primary sources of Islamic law, the Koran and Sunna (the sayings and practices of Prophet Muhammad). At the same time, the constitution sought to protect religious freedom. Its bill of “fundamental rights” included the right of every citizen to “profess, practice and propagate his religion”. It further entitled “every religious denomination and every sect” to “establish, maintain and manage its religious institutions”. Moreover, it included safeguards against taxation on the basis of religion, and compulsory religious instruction in educational institutions for a religion other than one’s own.

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