Vulnerable minorities

[Ahmad]

The EU parliament has rapped Pakistan hard on the knuckles for its poor minority rights record — and rightly so. It has also demanded a review of the infamous blasphemy law that has lent itself to misuse, to the extent of justifying murder.



While it is not clear if the European MPs were provoked by a particular incident, one cannot deny that Pakistan has to put in far more effort to gain the trust of its minorities. There are some laws on the statute books — including the blasphemy law — that actively operate against minorities. Although the constitution pledges protection for the rights of minorities, it also contains provisions that have caused a sense of insecurity among them. Attempts have been made to modify some laws, but the situation has not really changed on the ground. The blasphemy law that was introduced by the military regime of Gen Ziaul Haq is the most draconian and open to abuse. It has been used on a number of occasions to penalise communities that are not Muslim, with entire villages having been set on fire — Shantinagar is still fresh in our memory. An attempt by the Musharraf government to modify the process of registering a case under this law also ran into trouble.

With social prejudices increasing in an atmosphere of growing religiosity, it seems that minorities are becoming more vulnerable, even if they have rights under the law. Moreover, against a background of growing lawlessness in the country, they face a real danger of being targeted physically. They are discriminated against and, what is worse, cannot expect any protection from the state. The government must take a firm stand on their rights even if it means standing up to those obscurantist elements that have always opposed greater rights for Pakistan’s minorities. This government would be issuing a political statement in support of the minorities if it were to work towards repealing the blasphemy law. A campaign is also needed to make people aware of the virtues of tolerance. Without a change in the public mindset the current environment of hostility will

DAWN.COM | Editorial | Vulnerable minorities

 

[FlickerSingh]

too busy watching our minorities to bother about their own

 

[kallol]

The editorial column in Dawn :

While it is not clear if the European MPs were provoked by a particular incident, one cannot deny that Pakistan has to put in far more effort to gain the trust of its minorities. There are some laws on the statute books — including the blasphemy law — that actively operate against minorities. Although the constitution pledges protection for the rights of minorities, it also contains provisions that have caused a sense of insecurity among them. Attempts have been made to modify some laws, but the situation has not really changed on the ground. The blasphemy law that was introduced by the military regime of Gen Ziaul Haq is the most draconian and open to abuse. It has been used on a number of occasions to penalise communities that are not Muslim, with entire villages having been set on fire — Shantinagar is still fresh in our memory. An attempt by the Musharraf government to modify the process of registering a case under this law also ran into trouble.

With social prejudices increasing in an atmosphere of growing religiosity, it seems that minorities are becoming more vulnerable, even if they have rights under the law. Moreover, against a background of growing lawlessness in the country, they face a real danger of being targeted physically. They are discriminated against and, what is worse, cannot expect any protection from the state. The government must take a firm stand on their rights even if it means standing up to those obscurantist elements that have always opposed greater rights for Pakistan’s minorities. This government would be issuing a political statement in support of the minorities if it were to work towards repealing the blasphemy law. A campaign is also needed to make people aware of the virtues of tolerance. Without a change in the public mindset the current environment of hostility will remain.
"

I understand that a few places are in great harmony. But how are the minorities placed vis-a-vis the constitution and rights. Do they have equal rights as majority in all aspects ?

Looking for an honest answer.

 

[T-Faz]

The editorial column in Dawn :

While it is not clear if the European MPs were provoked by a particular incident, one cannot deny that Pakistan has to put in far more effort to gain the trust of its minorities. There are some laws on the statute books — including the blasphemy law — that actively operate against minorities. Although the constitution pledges protection for the rights of minorities, it also contains provisions that have caused a sense of insecurity among them. Attempts have been made to modify some laws, but the situation has not really changed on the ground. The blasphemy law that was introduced by the military regime of Gen Ziaul Haq is the most draconian and open to abuse. It has been used on a number of occasions to penalise communities that are not Muslim, with entire villages having been set on fire — Shantinagar is still fresh in our memory. An attempt by the Musharraf government to modify the process of registering a case under this law also ran into trouble.

With social prejudices increasing in an atmosphere of growing religiosity, it seems that minorities are becoming more vulnerable, even if they have rights under the law. Moreover, against a background of growing lawlessness in the country, they face a real danger of being targeted physically. They are discriminated against and, what is worse, cannot expect any protection from the state. The government must take a firm stand on their rights even if it means standing up to those obscurantist elements that have always opposed greater rights for Pakistan’s minorities. This government would be issuing a political statement in support of the minorities if it were to work towards repealing the blasphemy law. A campaign is also needed to make people aware of the virtues of tolerance. Without a change in the public mindset the current environment of hostility will remain.
"

I understand that a few places are in great harmony. But how are the minorities placed vis-a-vis the constitution and rights. Do they have equal rights as majority in all aspects ?

Looking for an honest answer.

Yes they have equal rights and are very well off, do you know that the hindus of Pakistan have higher GDP per capita then any other groups. So do Ahmadies and christians, they overlook very important institutions and make up our elite.

However very regrettably the poor suffer badly from mistreatment. In my area there are many hindus and christians but thy are the rich well off ones and enjoy a great life style. But the poor ones in rural areas do suffer and we need to work hard on improving their lives, not just minorities but all the poors.

This garbage blasphemous law needs to be abolished.

 

[VrSoLdIeRs]

The editorial column in Dawn :

While it is not clear if the European MPs were provoked by a particular incident, one cannot deny that Pakistan has to put in far more effort to gain the trust of its minorities. There are some laws on the statute books — including the blasphemy law — that actively operate against minorities. Although the constitution pledges protection for the rights of minorities, it also contains provisions that have caused a sense of insecurity among them. Attempts have been made to modify some laws, but the situation has not really changed on the ground. The blasphemy law that was introduced by the military regime of Gen Ziaul Haq is the most draconian and open to abuse. It has been used on a number of occasions to penalise communities that are not Muslim, with entire villages having been set on fire — Shantinagar is still fresh in our memory. An attempt by the Musharraf government to modify the process of registering a case under this law also ran into trouble.

With social prejudices increasing in an atmosphere of growing religiosity, it seems that minorities are becoming more vulnerable, even if they have rights under the law. Moreover, against a background of growing lawlessness in the country, they face a real danger of being targeted physically. They are discriminated against and, what is worse, cannot expect any protection from the state. The government must take a firm stand on their rights even if it means standing up to those obscurantist elements that have always opposed greater rights for Pakistan’s minorities. This government would be issuing a political statement in support of the minorities if it were to work towards repealing the blasphemy law. A campaign is also needed to make people aware of the virtues of tolerance. Without a change in the public mindset the current environment of hostility will remain.
"

I understand that a few places are in great harmony. But how are the minorities placed vis-a-vis the constitution and rights. Do they have equal rights as majority in all aspects ?

Looking for an honest answer.

dont know which rights are not provided to them... as far as i have seen, i have never witnessed any riots/lawlessness in the minority areas, there have been issues once in a while but not to that extent as the writer explains... but then again thats just a personal view!!!

 

[Fracker]

Pathetic, Minorities has double seats as per their ratio at parliament, senate, & other public sectors.. when some muslim get kill/murder media say people died, when same thing happens to some non-muslim, media starts to shout, ohh minorities right blah blah Wtf, I never seen any nonmuslim in my life have worst conditions then muslims in pakistan, this really bits me, and i feel where are muslims rights in pakistan? we have just minorities rights, women rights, but no one speak about common person rights, and needs, really pathetic :-s

Enough is enough, stop differentiating between minorities and majorities, both are just pakistanis and common people we need same rights for both rather then some special rights for minorities....

 

[khanz]

minorities are not treated as bad as the west sometimes likes to make out I think infact the minority population is undercounted if anything but yeah one thing i agre the blasphemy law is completely backward and an embarassment for pakistan esp calling itself the guardian of islam but having a such a discriminatory law not to mention also completely contradictory to how the prophet(pbuh) behaved .

 

[Fracker]

minorities are not treated as bad as the west sometimes likes to make out I think infact the minority population is undercounted if anything but yeah one thing i agre the blasphemy law is completely backward and an embarassment for pakistan esp calling itself the guardian of islam but having a such a discriminatory law not to mention also completely contradictory to how the prophet(pbuh) behaved .

Ofcourse, we should have laws which encourage people to behave badly for Prophet Muhammad (SAWW), like that "Draw Muhammad Day" person did. We should allow anyone to saying anything, anywhere (without any proofs) about our Prophet Muhammad (SAWW). We should stop following hazrat umar farooq (r.a), and encourage the ideology as the people like "Salman Rushdi". Our agenda should be to raise our value in front of Kaffir society rather then Allah. Our all worries should en-circle around them, and thinking how we can make our image better in front of these people

 

[ice_man]

firstly PAKISTAN never tries to put on the drama of "secular nation" unlike our neighbor.

however, as for minority rights well in recent history or even under zia's regime no one can point out a GUJRAT,ASSAM massacre or bombay riots or storming of the golden temple!!!


every year MILLIONS of sikhs come to Pakistan for pilgrimage! so please spare us the crap about no minority rights!