Islamabad, June 1: A delegation of Pakistani Catholic bishops met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican to address the challenges and discrimination faced by the Christian community in Pakistan. The delegation included three archbishops, four bishops, and one cardinal.
According to reports, Bishop Samson Shukardin, the president of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Bishop of Hyderabad, informed the Pope about the situation of Christians in Pakistan.
He expressed concerns about the misuse of blasphemy laws, institutional discrimination, and the rising incidents of forced conversions and marriages involving young Christian girls. Shukardin stated that Christians in Pakistan do not receive equal rights and face discrimination at both social and administrative levels.
During the meeting, the bishops also extended an invitation for Pope Leo XIV to visit Pakistan. While the Vatican has not yet announced any official visit, reports suggest that the Pope expressed a desire to visit Pakistan in the future and provided positive assurances to the delegation regarding this matter.
Meanwhile, last week, several minority rights organizations urged the federal government of Pakistan to implement constitutional reforms to strengthen the protection of religious minorities, women, and children under the proposed 28th constitutional amendment bill.
In a press conference held in Islamabad, leaders from the Minority Alliance Pakistan and other organizations proposed changes to constitutional provisions related to political representation, religious freedom, and child protection.
Akmal Bhatti, president of MAP, stated that the current constitutional provisions prevent non-Muslim citizens from accessing top positions such as the President and Prime Minister, while minorities lack direct democratic representation.
He emphasized that the proposed reforms aim to ensure equality before the law and equal opportunities for all citizens. Additionally, there is a need to enhance constitutional and legal protections to safeguard children from forced conversions and child marriages.
The proposals include a demand to prohibit conversions for children under 18 years of age. It suggests that any conversion should not be recognized until independent and informed consent is recorded before a judicial magistrate.
Akmal Bhatti also called for amendments to Articles 51 and 106 of the constitution to allow direct elections for reserved seats for non-Muslims and women in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies.
He urged the parliamentary constitutional reform committee to consult extensively with minority communities, legal experts, and civil society organizations before finalizing the amendment package.
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