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The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday directed the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics to include the Kalasha religion on the national census form prior to the second phase of the exercise starting April 25.
A two-judge bench of the PHC announced the order while hearing a writ petition filed by members of the Kalash community. The government was represented in court by the deputy attorney general.
Sabir Awan, the petitioner's lawyer, informed the court that the Kalash people subscribe to one of the oldest known religions of the region, and that their members continue to live in three remote villages in district Chitral.
Awan cautioned that exclusion of the religion from the census form would be an injustice to the community and a violation of law, which guarantees equal rights to all its citizens. He pointed out that almost all major religions were included in the form except Kalash.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court directed the government to include the Kalash religion on the census form before April 25.
Members of the Kalash community present at the court appreciated the decision.
"It's a landmark decision and is a victory for the people of Kalash," Wazir Zada, a member of Kalash told Dawn.
Earlier in February, the people of Chitral had threatened to boycott the census for omitting the Kalasha religion and 13 other languages being spoken in the district from the enumeration form.
Representatives of the Kalash community were reported to have warned that the tribe was already endangered and their exclusion from the census database would create further complications, especially with regards to their size and strength.
Currently, the Kalash tribe is estimated to be around 3,500-4,000 strong.
Described as an “anthropological enigma”, the Kalash community is more than a magnet for local and international tourism.
Dwelling in the folds of the stony Hindu Kush mountains, the tribe draws its lineage from the ancient Middle East or even from soldiers of Alexander the Great's army, academics have speculated.
Kalasha, the religion followed by Kalash community, lies between Islam and and an ancient form of Hinduism.
Their ritualistic ceremonies serve as a potent reminder of the region's pre-Islamic past.
However, in recent years, there has been a sense of existential insecurity surrounding the tribe and its cultural identity.
Comments (28) Closed
Excellent there are tens of religions in Pakistan, gov should have included as many as possible.
The purpose of the census normally is to determine what resources to allocate to the population depending on their needs & count the total number of people at the same time. Be it the need of hospitals, schools, roads or other infrastructur or providing accessibility to people who are disabled or religious needs of various religious of the country. So not counting the details of the local population's needs kills the purpose of the census itself. Why Pakistani government officials don't get this, baffles us all.
This community is suffering from the majority nowadays may God help them ..Good People
Jewel community of Pakistan. Long live Kalash people.
Kalash community is very peaceful.
Deplorable state of minorities in pakistan
This had been serious flaw and good to have it corrected. It would give a very presentable image of the country to the world.
Great news..
Such a beautiful people and culture. Pride of Pakistan and symbol of our great diversity! Good call by the court.
Very good move
Good decision.
Good decision for the beautiful Kalash people.I hope more is done to preserve the culture of the Kalash!.
You need supreme court order to enlist this minority in census !? Democracy at its lowest.
Very good decision, thx court for this good outcome.
A remarkable decision.
Kalasha Zindabad. Stay safe and stick to your languages, culture and religion.
Ancient religions, custom and cultures are to be preserved and respected by the present and future generations.
Good decision by the court.
We welcome this news! Kalash people are a very ancient part of our national heredity that we need to protect!
let there be secularism in Pakistan and freedom of speech and belief.
@Azad kashmir unique culture, traditions, costumes and way of live. Respect and preserve Kalash culture and tradition. The Census is more than counting people. It captures almost every aspect of people/family, their income, age, gender, religion, race, name it. That data is very very valuable and used in developing efficient and effective social and economic policies. Great decision of including Kalasha religion in the Census. Good luck Census.
@sangun, we are not perfect and have our issues but u guys have no right to taunt us given the fact that ur largest state elected a guy as the CM who publicly on record told his supporters to rape dead muslim women.
@Balaji, and u guys elect a person as ur CM who publicly told his supporters to rape corpses of muslim women. Democracy at its worst.
@Balaji right
@VALIYA thanks
Good decision by the honourable court.
@MUHAMMAD reported by Pakistani media? UP CM is one very few in the state who is non-corrupt and respected by minorities as well. A man vowed to celibacy will loose all credibility if he asks for such heinous and distasteful act.
@Sohail only if you know what including religion in census actually means. it means nothing,.