Can Pakistan be a Secular State?

The question as to whether Pakistan should be a religious or a secular state has been an academic debate for decades. Particularly during and after the ‘Islamization Programme of General Zia-ul-Haq from 1977 to 1988, it became a most concerning issue within and outside the country for Human Rights activists and minorities in Pakistan. This discourse critically addresses this question in comparison to the secularism of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is studied as a model state as she is one of the most developed secular countries and has some commonalities with Pakistan. The theological, historical, andempirical factors behind British secularism are discussed and their possible applicability in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan examined.