Christian Wins Landmark Faith Identity Case in Pakistan
Christian Wins Landmark Faith Identity Case in Pakistan
A 22-year-old Christian in Pakistan has won a months-long legal fight to have his faith correctly listed on his national identity card a rare victory for the country’s persecuted religious minorities.
Civil Judge Anam Younis of Bahawalpur ruled on October 17 that the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) must issue a new ID card to Rahul Masih, recognizing his Christian identity.
Masih’s ordeal began after he lost his original ID card, which correctly identified him as a Christian. When he applied for a replacement, NADRA issued a new card naming him Sufyan Ali and listing his religion as Islam.
Despite repeated visits to the registration office, his requests for correction were ignored, said his lawyer, Lazar Allah Rakha. With support from ADF International, a legal advocacy group, Masih took the matter to court.
ALSO READ: Apostle Iren Recounts Pastor Jerry Eze’s Journey of Grace
During hearings, NADRA officials claimed he had voluntarily converted to Islam. However, they failed to present any evidence to support that claim. The court accepted Masih’s baptism and school certificates and testimony from his parents, confirming his Christian faith.
“I’ve never been a Muslim,” Masih told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “When I was told I had changed my religion myself, I was shocked. I kept pleading with them to fix the mistake, but they refused.”
The court’s decision is a significant one in Pakistan, where officials rarely allow anyone registered as Muslim to change their religious status. Lawyers say such errors can strip minorities of education, employment, and social rights guaranteed under the law.
Rakha explained that these mistakes have far-reaching consequences. Incorrect registration can exclude Christians and other minorities from job quotas, scholarships, and university seats reserved for non-Muslims. It can also cause complications in passports, marriage registration, and inheritance.
He noted that NADRA’s system makes it easy to convert to Islam, but almost impossible to revert from it. “Anyone wrongly identified as Muslim often has to go through costly and lengthy litigation,” he said.
The lawyer urged the government to reform NADRA’s correction process and introduce protections for individuals seeking to amend their records. “No one should face discrimination or danger for wanting their faith recognized correctly,” he said.
Pakistan ranks eighth on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution.
Content Credit: Moyosola Oni
Image Credit: Google .Com
