Daily Times

The US has included Pakistan on a list of “countries of particular concern” in terms of religious freedom. We, here, at this newspaper are more than aware of the longstanding hypocrisy of the lone superpower lecturing others as it continues to enforce its anti-Muslim travel ban and fails to curb Islamophobia as well as rising anti-Semitism. That being said, we consider it an indelible stain on this country’s record that the dream of a pluralist and tolerant Pakistan remains but a distant dream.

This drop in ranking from last year was perhaps to be expected given the violent unrest that came in the wake of the Asia Bibi acquittal. Of course, the street agitation assumed a dangerous significance given that the highest court in the land had dropped all blasphemy charges against the former farm labourer. Thereby underscoring how certain quarters here have no regard for the rule of law; even as they enter the parliamentary system.

To be fair, the ruling PTI did the needful when it eventually arrested Khadim Rizvi and his Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) cohorts and charged them with treason as well as terrorism; though not with incitement to religious hatred and murder. Though, of course, this same government backtracked and sacked Dr Atif Mian from the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) when his Ahmadi faith became a flashpoint for the religious right. Equally regrettable was how some members of the Imran Khan government privately absolved their chief of all charges of capitulation; insisting that this simply represented the fallout from trying to promote minorities. When, in fact, it is the job of those at the helm to lead by example however early into their tenure they may be. And this ought to include not giving a ticket to a particular television personality who publicly argued that Ahmadis deserved to be murdered for blasphemy. Inheriting a multitude of competing issues is no excuse for such grave missteps.

The Prime Minister has five years to affect fundamental change. The bottom line is that as long as certain  legislation is not reformed — such as the draconian blasphemy laws — any political set-up will have a hard time in safeguarding religious minorities and upholding their rights. For the problem is not enforcement alone. It is one that has at its heart a questionable premise. Namely, that non-believers can commit blasphemy against any faith. Whereas incitement is something different.

There was a window of opportunity during the last PPP government; when the party held the Centre a decade ago. The then governor of the Punjab, Salmaan Taseer, and then federal minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti were advocating for these man-made blasphemy laws to be taken off the books; while actively lobbying for Asia Bibi’s release. Both men paid the ultimate price for their efforts. Thereby prompting political rivals to begin whispering in hushed tones about the folly of failing to address these matters quietly behind-the-scenes. While such sentiments may have invited censure some seven years ago — today, they appear to suggest prudence. For this is how far Pakistan has fallen.

Thus the immediate hope is that TLP chief and his supporters will face due process all the way to its natural conclusion. And that Asia Bibi is released and flown to somewhere safe. Naturally, the aforementioned will not resolve overnight the prevailing climate of violent discrimination and prejudice suffered by the country’s minorities. But it will set an important precedent. And that is the best Pakistan can hope for at the moment.  *

Published in Daily Times, December 12^th 2018.