Structural inequalities and minority rights: analyzing the formal aspects in context of Pakistan

Abstract

This study investigated the public perceptions regarding minorities and their rights and examined the legal framework of Pakistan in context of minority rights along with the gaps within the formal system that allow violations and exploitations against the minorities. The study includes content analysis, comparing the constitution of Pakistan against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; along with the in-depth interviews of students from the majority religious group and students from minorities groups. The research investigated about the perceptions of both groups regarding religious minorities and minority rights in Pakistan. This research has been designed as a qualitative research study. The findings reflect the critical situation being faced by the minorities in Pakistan, due to significant gaps between theory and practice existing in the legal framework. The law protects the minority rights, and they are given all equal rights by the constitution, but the implementation phase seems and remains unfulfilled due to numerous societal and religious factors influencing the formal system. This research has contributed to the existing literature related to minority groups in Pakistan, showcasing the structural inequalities and discriminations that have become part of their everyday lives, leading to unchecked violations of their fundamental rights.