Pakistan’s struggle to reconcile national and religious identity traces back to its founding vision of secular pluralism under Jinnah, which gradually eroded as post-independence leaders institutionalized Islam as a unifying yet divisive force. Constitutional measures, such as the 1949 Objective Resolution and the 1973 declaration of Ahmadis as non-Muslims, entrenched religious majoritarianism, marginalizing minorities who now constitute just 3% of the population, down from 25% in 1947, due to systemic violence, forced conversions, and discriminatory laws like the blasphemy statutes expanded under General Zia-ul-Haq.