The Objectives Resolution passed by the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan in March,1949, and subsequently made a substantive part of the Constitution of Pakistan on March 2, 1985 is once again in the limelight for determining the question of immunity to certain persons in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. However, while going through its contents I observed a disparity between its original version and the Annex inserted later on into the Constitution. In its clause dealing with the minorities the word "freely" that appeared in the original Resolution has been somehow removed in the Annex to the Constitution. It reads “Wherein adequate provision shall be made for the minorities to profess and practice their religions and develop their cultures", instead of the original, “Wherein adequate provision shall be made for the minorities to freely profess and practice their religions and develop their cultures". Why has the word ‘freely’ been removed from the above is not understood? Does Islam not allow the minorities to freely profess and practice their religion?
COL. RIAZ JAFRI (RETD),
Rawalpindi, January 23.