Editorial

Dr. Busharat Elahi Jamil

“…There remains the far greater task of constructing and building up Pakistan which will require every ounce of our energy, but by the Grace of God we shall build up this new greatest Muslim sovereign State in the World with complete unity, discipline and faith.” (Mr. M. A. Jinnah, July 07, 1947).

In 1947, Indian Muslims claimed they were being exploited and discriminated in the united Indian territories. The idea begot a long run effort led by Mr. Jinnah, which resulted in the form of a separate state for Indian Muslims to practise religious teachings with utmost freedom. Intrinsically, Pakistan is not an Islamic Republic, but only a land for the Majority of the deprived Indian Muslims to escape the persecution. Indian Partition resulted in one of the world’s largest migrations from one state to another. As outcome, it also changed the Indian Muslims’ status from minority to majority.  But there is another point to ponder; most of the Pakistani non-Muslims are locals inhabiting this land since centuries. The reality makes their rights prevail more as citizens for being the earlier inhabitants of the land.

But then again unfortunately, with the passage of time Muslims as the hegemonic community started to exploit the 7% non-Muslims in Pakistan. Inappropriately, the word “MINORITY” even in the Constitution is enough to divide the nation. Hatred has widened the crack to such extent that non-Muslims have become second class citizens. Nation needs to think that non-Muslims in the territory of Pakistan are not minority but they are “PAKISTANIS”, with equal rights.

State supported discrimination and the misuse of blasphemy laws blowout a sense of insecurity, uncertainty and anxiety among the non-Muslims. Recently reported, Gujranwala’s horrific incident is the worst example.  Lamentably, we mostly extremist Mullahs are found as master minds misusing the blasphemy laws, which became quite obvious upon reflecting on the recent Gujranwala incident.

Non-Muslims are not second-class citizens; they ever remained loyal to Pakistan. Not a single non-Muslim has ever found guilty or involved in any extremist or terrorist activity in Pakistan. Such incidents reveal the intolerance and violations of the articles 9, 14, 25 and 33 of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 as well as the human rights charter of 1948.

Unfortunately, the current Pakistan is in contradiction of the wishes and dreams of Mr. Jinnah as he viewed in March 1948,

 “… Every community will be treated as citizens of Pakistan with equal rights and privileges and obligations and that minorities will be safeguarded and protected…”.

But the contemporary in-tolerated Pakistani Islamic society is cornering the non-Muslims in the name of religion/Islam. Factually, Non-Muslims are not free to go to their worship places and practice their religions freely. So-called clerics are severely using their street power for their own tenacities, giving the idea that Pakistan is not now an Islamic republic but Mullah’s Republic where Government is helpless.