Baháʼí Faith in Pakistan
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The Baháʼí Faith originated in the 19th century Persian empire, and soon spread into the neighboring British India, which is now Pakistan and other states. The roots of the religion in Pakistan go back to the 1840s, and it was recognized in the constitution of 1981 as a religious minority with legal rights.[1] According to various sources, there are 2,000 to 87,000 Baha'is living in Pakistan.[2][3]
One of the disciples of the Báb, Shaykh Saʼid-i-Hindi, was from Multan, Pakistan, and was instructed by the Báb to spread the religion to his homeland. The Shaykh converted a blind man named Basir from Multan, who traveled to Iran, met Baháʼu'lláh, and was later killed for his beliefs while in Iran.[4] Another early Indian convert was Qahru'llah, who met the Báb in Chihríq and returned to India.[5] Baháʼu'lláh later encouraged followers to travel to India and spread the Baháʼí Faith there.[6]
In 1921 the Baháʼís of Karachi elected their first Baháʼí Local Spiritual Assembly and acquired a Baháʼí Center before independence.[7][8] In 1923, still as part of India, a regional National Spiritual Assembly was formed for all India and Burma which then included the area now part of Pakistan.[9] By 1956 Baháʼí local assemblies spread across many cities,[10] and in 1957, East and West Pakistan elected a separate National Baháʼí Assembly from India and later East Pakistan became Bangladesh with its own national assembly.[9] In 1978, Baháʼís in Pakistan established a Montessori School in Karachi that continues functioning as the "New Day Secondary School".[11] The school started with three students and by 2015 had over 700 enrolled.[12] There are about 12 Baháʼí Centers (a.k.a. Baháʼí Halls) spread around Pakistan.[8]
With the constitutional recognition that they received in 1981,[1] Bahá’ís in Pakistan have had the right to hold public meetings, establish academic centers, teach their faith, and elect their administrative councils.[13][1] However, the government prohibits Baháʼís from travelling to Israel for Baháʼí pilgrimage,[14] and they face challenges due to the requirement to identify religion on identity papers.[2] Many Baháʼís feel threatened and avoid displaying their religious identity publicly. Most Pakistanis have not heard about the Bahá’í Faith and consider it to be a sect of Islam or a cult.[15] Minority Rights Group International in its 2002 report states that the Bahá’í in Pakistan, "are still a young and almost invisible community, which is confined to intellectuals who try to keep out of the limelight. Their magazines and books are available in Urdu but the fundamentalists, unlike their counterparts in Iran, have not yet seen them as a threat."[16]
Baháʼís in Pakistan are very active. They organize social programs for their community, as well as activities in which others can participate. Activities are focused on the teachings and writings of Baháʼu'lláh, and are similar to those of Baháʼís around the world: children's classes, junior youth spiritual empowerment, study circles, devotional gatherings, and other social activities.[15] Their official website claims that they are active in "literacy programs for rural areas, free medical camps and tree plantations, discourses with dignitaries and leaders of thought, promoting interaction amongst the youth of all communities and by actively participating in dialogues on religious coexistence."[11] There is a large annual gathering of Baháʼís in Pakistan that takes place in the auditorium of the National Council of Arts, Islamabad, to celebrate the Baháʼí holy day of Ridván. The gathering is attended by government ministers and other faith groups.[15]