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 emples, 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
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