Population
144.6 million
Punjabi
Sindhi
Pashtu
Baloch
Muhajir
Capital City
Islamabad
Leadership
President &
Chief Executive
Gen. Pervez Musharraf
Religion
97% Muslim
3% Christian & Hindu
Pakistan
Ambassador
to the U.S.
Ambassador
Dr. Maleeha Lodhi
Embassy of the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan
2315 Massachusetts
Ave N W
Washington D.C. 20008
Phone: (202) 939-6200
Fax: (202) 387-0484
Email:
parepwashington
@erols.com
Web:
www.pakistan
-embassy.com
BIO
When an independent Muslim state was finally established in India, Hindus were given the larger, central
region still named India, and the Muslims were presented
with Pakistan, "the land of the pure."
When arguments over how the new land would be gov-
erned were not fully resolved through the establishment of a
first constitution, the new document was revoked entirely,
and martial law was declared, establishing a governing
trend which exists even today. Its most recent leader is
General Pervez Musharraf, who seized control via semi-
peaceful coup in 1999. The self-appointed President
has in recent years taken on the role of peacemaker with
India, attempting to ease nuclear tensions with the giant
neighbor by waving a gentler fist, but also urging India to
stay out of Pakistani affairs.
This
role has taken a recent backseat, however, to his role
as 'friend of the US' in the newly-waged war on terrorism.
Having dismissed his relations with the Taliban
and al
Qaeda
group working in neighboring Afghanistan,
Musharraf has allowed US
troops to operate and base
themselves in this predominantly Muslim
nation. Despite
the friendly face from the Pakistan leaders, however, a
sizable portion of the Pakistan Muslim population is
continuing to
protest the relationship, and not always
peacefully.
Many of these more extreme Muslims classify
all Americans
as Christians, and as 'enemies' to their way of life. Multiple
Christian churches have been
bombed in the last year,
leaving no doubt that tensions remain high. Christians are
routinely sought out and harassed,
tortured, wrongly
imprisoned and even put to death at the hands of Muslim
extremist peers. To learn
more about some specific cases
of persecution in Pakistan, please choose a link
at right.
Tell
me more about Pakistan's blasphemy law
Can you recommend some
other Pakistan websites?
