Daily Times

In order to facilitate movement of the Christian community across the country on the eve of Christmas, the HR Minister has announced the launch of a special train. This train will include eight wagons, two floats and two galleries. The Christmas train will be inaugurated on December 22. It is first of its kind arrangement in the history of Pakistan for the Christian community that they would be provided with a facility to travel across the country on a train conveying the message of religious harmony and tolerance.

The arrangement of this excursion ride for Christians is a good gesture by the concerned Ministries. It is welcome news, given the poor status of the members of minority communities in the country, who are meted out poor treatment and are not considered equal citizens. In Pakistan, minorities feel insecure, and this is the result of discriminatory policies of the state and society towards them. There are numerous examples of injustice that are committed against the members of minority communities almost on a daily basis across the country. Successive governments do not seem to care about the challenges the minorities have been facing for many years. They do not have equal rights, are often subjected to injustice, and come under attack on the pretext of mere allegations. In this scenario, even a small step of facilitating the minority community on their religious occasion will give them a sense of satisfaction. Undoubtedly, the Christian community is an equal partner in the struggle for ensuring sustained development, stability, security and solidarity of the country.

Socio-economic and political exclusion of non-Muslims must come to an end now, and they must be included in the mainstream dynamic of Pakistan, an ideology that was laid down by none other than Mohammad Ali Jinnah. It is the responsibility of the state to ensure equal rights of all citizens instead of singling out non-Muslims from the mainstream society. Religious discrimination in Pakistan is a serious issue. Christians, Hindus and Ahmadis among other religious groups are routinely discriminated against. They are at times refused jobs, loans, housing and other similar things simply because of their choice of religious faith.

Let us pledge to promote love for all and hate for none. Let’s start respecting minorities and providing them space to breathe freely. This is the incomplete agenda of the partition of Pakistan. Socio-economic and political exclusion of minorities must come to an end now and they must be included in the mainstream of Pakistan — an ideology that was laid down by none other than Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. *