EMPOWERMENT OF RELIGIOUS MINORITY COMMUNITIES AND PROMOTION OF UNDERSTANDING FOR PEACE AND TOLERANCE IN BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN
Abstract
Religious minorities in Pakistan have suffered from severe marginalization since the creation of the country in 1947. State machinery has failed to protect basic rights and ensure equity, peace and freedom of life, speech and religion for the minority communities. The onset waves of religious extremism, fundamentalism and events of global politics have kept the life of minorities at high risk in different parts of the country. This research study aims to explore factors that weaken in the empowerment of religious minority communities to protect their rights and promote understanding for equity, peace and tolerance in Balochistan province of Pakistan. The study is qualitative in nature. A total of 04 Focus Group Discussions were conducted and 17 key informants were interviewed to obtain primary data from representatives of all religious minority communities and the majority population including the duty bearers. Thematic analytical approach was adapted to analyze the data. The study analyzes the political, institutional, judicial, social, educational and economic dimensions that act as bottlenecks in the empowerment of religious minority communities to protect their rights and promote understanding for tolerance, peace, harmony and equity with the majority community. The study suggests