A Concise History of the Pakistani Christians

Emmanuel Zafar and the political mobilization of religious minorities in Pakistan
Political Mobilisation of the Christian Community.Emmanuel Zafar played an instrumental role in politically uniting Pakistan’s Christian community. He travelled extensively across the country, motivating various Christian splinter groups to come together under one platform. His efforts ultimately led to the formation of the Pakistan Masihi League, a representative Christian political party.

Founding and leadership of political movements:
Remaining true to his principles, Zafar later separated from the Pakistan Masihi League and co-founded the Azad Masihi League with Joshua Fazal-ud-Din. He currently leads the Masihi Awami Party and has been at the forefront of nearly all demonstrations and protest rallies organized by the Christian community.

Parliamentary Achievements:
In 1985, Emmanuel Zafar Advocate, High Courts, was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan, marking a historic milestone for Christian representation. During his tenure, he:
Established 12 schools for Christian children
Constructed 200 community centres.
Delivered civic amenities to underdeveloped rural areas.

Emmanuel Zafar Road, Mariamabad:
One of his most significant achievements was the construction of a three-mile access road from Sargodha Road to the National Marian Holy Mary Pilgrimage Shrine in Mariamabad, District Sheikhupura. This road is now internationally recognized as Emmanuel Zafar Road.


Pension and Gratuity Reform
On 7 July 1985, under his leadership and advocacy, the Punjab Government approved the long-standing demand for pension and gratuity for Local Government employees—an unprecedented development in Pakistan’s history. The announcement was made by Chaudhry Pervaiz (then Minister of Local Bodies, now Chief Minister of Punjab) at a public meeting held in Lahore’s Town Hall, presided over by Emmanuel Zafar.
Legal Publications
Emmanuel Zafar is a distinguished legal author with around 30 authoritative law books, widely used by lawyers and students. His works are recommended for LLB and LLM programs in Punjab University and law colleges nationwide.
General Reference Books
1. Code of Civil Procedure (5 volumes)
2. Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 (2 volumes)
3. Civil Ready Reference (3 volumes)
4. Law Relating to Christian Marriages in Pakistan
5. Law Relating to Christian Divorce in Pakistan
6. Law of Christian Inheritance & Succession
7. Law Relating to Suppression of Terrorism
8. Law & Practice of Islamic Hudood
9. Law of Bail
10. Law of Writs
11. Law of Civil Services in Pakistan
12. Art of Cross-Examination
13. Ethical Criminal Practice
14. Art of a Lawyer
15. Law of Fraud
16. Law on Narcotic Substances Control
17. Contempt of Court, Parliament, and Public Servants

Student Textbooks
18. General Principles of Criminal Law
19. General Principles of the Contract Act
20. Legal Ethics
21. Constitution of the United States of America
22. Administrative Law
Legal Dictionaries
23. Concise Medico-Legal Dictionary
24. Dictionary of Legal Maxims, Foreign Phrases, and Judicial Terms

Journalistic Contributions
He also served the Christian minority community through journalism:
• Monthly Humsookhan (Urdu)
• Monthly The Minorities View (English)

Regional Legal Impact: His comparative legal texts, such as Law Relating to Christian Marriages in Pakistan, India & Bangladesh, have been referenced in South Asian legal circles dealing with minority rights and family law.
Diaspora Engagement: Pakistani Christian communities abroad, particularly in the UK, Canada, and the U.S., have used his writings to advocate for policy changes and raise awareness about minority issues back home.
Global Human Rights Discourse: His emphasis on constitutionalism and equal citizenship resonates with international human rights frameworks, making his work relevant to NGOs and legal reformers beyond Pakistan.
A Royal Tribute: Queen Elizabeth Recognises Emmanuel Zafar’s Chronicle of Christian Heritage. In 2007, Queen Elizabeth appreciated Emmanuel Zafar, the author of A Concise History of Pakistani Christians. She honoured him with the title of Esquire. In British tradition, “Esquire” is more of a courtesy title rather than an official honour; it’s often used to denote a gentleman or lawyer, especially in official writing.
A letter from the Archbishop of Cantbery


Blessings from Pope Benedict




Cultural Memory & Identity
His historical work, especially A Concise History of Pakistani Christians, challenges dominant narratives and reclaims space for minority contributions in national history. This fosters interfaith understanding and combats erasure, helping minorities feel seen and valued.