Rights of minorities

Supreme Court observed that under the Constitution minorities had a special status; that the very genesis of Pakistan was grounded in the protection of the religious rights of all, especially those of minorities; that the incidents of desecration of places of worship of minorities could be warded off if the authorities concerned had taken preventive measures at the appropriate time; that the inaction on the part of law enforcement agencies was on account of the lack of proper understanding of the relevant law; that there was a general lack of awareness about minority rights among the people and those entrusted with enforcement of law were also not fully sensitized to such issue; that desecration of places of worship of even a non-Muslim was an offence under the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860; that it would be counter intuitive if the right to freedom of religion enshrined in Art.20 of the Constitution was interpreted in a manner which had the effect of encroaching upon religious freedoms of minority religions in the country

Suo motu case was disposed of accordingly.