By
Sajjad Shaukat
Every year, on August
11, Pakistan officially celebrates the National Minorities Day to honour the
services and sacrifices, rendered by religious minorities for the country over
the years.
This very day also
recognizes the contribution and sacrifices of minorities in creation of
Pakistan and nation-building.
On this occasion,
events, seminars and social gatherings are arranged across the country by
members of various religious minorities and the ministry of National Harmony.
It may be recalled that
during the PPP government, August 11 was official declared National Minorities
Day by the former President Asif Ali Zardari in 2009 in line with the
historic speech of founder of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah at
the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947. In his speech, Quaid-e-Azam said,
“You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your
mosques or to any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may
belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the
business of the state.”
In the same speech,
Quaid-e-Azam said, “We are starting in the days where there is no
discrimination, no distinction between one community and another, no
discrimination between ones caste or creed and another. We are starting with
this fundamental principle that we are all citizens, and equal citizens of one
state.”
It is mentionable that
in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam, the Constitution of 1973
protects the real rights and interest of minorities, living in Pakistan.
Last year, Shahid
Mairaj, the Dean of the Cathedral stated in his message, on August
11, “The governing principle is to let people of every faith live in peace
as they choose, and understand that the state belongs to everyone. This country
is our mother, and it is a duty for all of us to help it to advance and
flourish.”
In this regard, Member
Punjab Assembly and minorities’ leader Najmi Saleem remarked, “Minorities in
Pakistan have exactly the same rights and responsibilities as other citizens”.
Minister Incharge for
National Harmony Dr. Paul Bhatti said, “The Minorities Day provides us an
opportunity to renew the pledge for the promotion of tolerance and interfaith
harmony as in a pluralistic society, there can always be a divergence of
opinion on a number of issues, but these differences can be solved through
interfaith harmony which means a cooperative and positive interaction between
people of different religions, traditions, faiths, and spiritual or humanistic
beliefs, at all levels.”
He acknowledged by
pointing out, “Many steps have been taken by the Government for the protection
and promotion of minorities like the reservation of 5 percent quota in
Government jobs/services, enhancement representation in the parliament,
declaration of August 11 as the Minorities Day, including observance of
optional holidays and celebration of the festivals of minorities at official
level”.
A Sikh leader, Sardar
Bishan Singh shared similar thoughts and pointed out that all citizens of
Pakistan worked together for the growth of the country.
It is notable that the
Ministry of National Harmony was formed after the devolution of Ministry of
Minority Affairs to acknowledge the sacrifices and services of minorities to
promote peace, patience and tolerance for creating an understanding and
brotherhood among the people of different schools of thought.
However, since the
formation of Pakistan, minorities are contributing in every sphere of life and
their political involvement is also worth appreciating. Therefore, the day is
dedicated to the minorities who played their constructive role in Pakistan.
But, it is regrettable
that in the recent years, with the support of anti-Pakistan groups like
Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), Jundullah and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan
(TTP) including their affiliated outfits, Indian secret agency RAW which has
well-established its network in Afghanistan arranged a number of terror-attacks
on Ahmadis, Christians and Sikhs in order to distort the image of Pakistan
abroad.
In this connection, some
terror-events might be cited as instance. In May, 2009, Indian backed militants
had forcibly taken over the shops and homes of the 35 Sikh families in the
Orakzai Agency in Pakistan. On May 28, 2011 armed assaults on two Ahmadi mosques
in Lahore killed more than 70 people. More than 80 people died and 150 injured
when two suicide attackers struck the All Saints Church in Peshawar on
September 22, 2013. On March 17, 2015, at least 15 people were killed and more
than 70 injured when two Taliban suicide bombers attacked churches in Lahore.
Indian supported TTP claimed responsibility for these attacks. In this context,
investigations showed that RAW was behind these subversive acts. In fact,
besides other terror attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, Balochistan and
Karachi, assaults on religious communities are part of the Indian scheme to
create chaotic situation in Pakistan, because it is the only nuclear country in
the Islamic World.
While, India which
claims an arch secular state has surprised the world because of continued
attacks on other minority groups, especially Christians, Muslims and Sikhs—and
events of forced conversion of Christians and Muslims into Hindus.
Unlike India, where
religious minorities are being targeted by the Hindu fundamentalist outfits
like the ruling party BJP, RSS, Shiv Sena etc., all the minorities such as
Christians, Ahmadis, Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis and Budahists enjoy fundamental
rights in Pakistan, including all other rights of citizenry in Pakistan.
Nevertheless, Pakistan
which came into existence on the basis of Islamic principles to provide respect
and protection to all the segments of society is giving full safety to all the
minorities as mentioned in the Constitution. Besides other minority groups, particularly
Christians are not only serving in the armed forces, but are also working in
other departments. Without any discrimination by the Muslims, they also run
their own business and are working in private sectors.
Nonetheless, the
National Minorities Day not only expresses gratitude for the contributions,
made by these religious communities, but also professes that future development
of Pakistan hinges crucially on their efforts.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on
international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants,
Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations
Email:
sajjad_logic@yahoo.com
No comments:
Post a Comment