London: May 21, 2018. (PCP) The Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed all the authorities to officially refer to the Christian community as ‘Masihi’. On May 11 authorities were directed to use the word Masihi instead of the pejorative Esai in official documents and records. In 2016, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) also issued orders regarding use of Masihi for Christians instead of Esai. Christian MPA Shakeel Ivan Khokhar struggled to get this directive officially issued and petitioned to Director of the National Database and Registration Authority Headquarter in Islamabad, seeking official directions. Nasir Saeed, Director CLAAS-UK, has welcomed the court directives and said this is a positive step to prevent the growing hatred against religious minorities and to improve the relationship between Muslims and Christians. He added: “Christians are offended whenever they are called Esai. They have been objecting and expressing their concern over the use of this insulting and pejorative word, but the government has not paid attention.” Mr Saeed expressed his worries that although the court has made the directions it may take several years for them to be implemented and to change the present environment of hatred against Christians which has continued to grow for the last several decades