Daily Times

Sir: A few days ago a disturbing video went viral on social media. In it, a large crowd could be observed watching on, as an old Muslim man was ruthlessly beaten to death. The angry mob that lynched him belonged to a cow protection society, and they did so after hearing reports of the man slaughtering cows for consumption. The video showed the old man repeatedly denying the charges as people kept beating him, yet his pleas for mercy fell on deaf years as he later died of his many injuries.

In the aftermath of this deplorable incident, the government of India remained conspicuously silent, with Prime Minister Modi refusing to comment on this atrocity. He also refused to blame the right-wing Hindu extremist organizations that have led to an escalation in these kinds of episodes across the country, and have been becoming increasingly bold in taking extreme actions against people they deem are a threat to their religion. Even though it is incidents like these that make Muslims across Pakistan realize how lucky they are to be living in an independent country where they do not have to be afraid of similar treatment, it should also remind us of how far we have strayed from the path our founding fathers envisioned for us, back in 1947.

Quaid-I-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah fought to create Pakistan as a land which Muslims could call a home, and a place where their community could find peace and safety from any and all opposing forces. This was meant to be applicable for not only the Muslims living in the country, but also those around the world, yet we have been so busy with problems within our borders that we seem to have forgotten the plight of the Muslims in need elsewhere. It was envisioned that Pakistan would have the power to force India, or any nation that threatened the Muslim population, by applying pressure either through the intervention of international agencies, or, if it came to it, with force. They could use all diplomatic channels in order to compel the Indian government in protecting its sizable Muslim population.

However, it was not to be, and today we do not have the required power to force India to give extra protection to the Muslims in the country, especially considering Pakistan’s own sketchy past when it comes to the treatment of minorities. As we ourselves could not adequately protect our many minority communities, how could we ask another nation to do the same? While I will not lay the blame for this situation on one group, or party, I would just like to urge the people of Pakistan to realize their mistakes as quick as possible, and unite for the rights of every citizen that resides within the borders of this country, no matter what their background. Let’s follow the path our Quaid planned for us, and end this unnecessary bloodshed once and for all.

ZULQARNAIN SHAH

Lahore

Published in Daily Times, June 27^th 2018.