Daily Times

Protests against the so-called anti-Islam movie continued during the last week of September. The so-called peaceful protests claimed the lives of more than 20 people and caused irreparable damage to public and private property alike. Most important of all, a church was set on fire by the protesting mob in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and a Hindu temple in Karachi was ransacked and statues of Hindu gods desecrated. Not just this, Hindu women were also robbed of their jewelry by the mob that was apparently protesting against the anti-Islam movie.

After handing down such a treatment to non-Muslim Pakistanis, we get suspicious when they try to leave the country in search of a safe and better future. Yes, hundreds of Hindus are leaving the country for India in search of a safe and better future. This is not surprising at all, because in a country where non-Muslims are treated as second-class citizens, there is no other way to survive but this. It is sad that Hindus could not register their marriages in Pakistan until now. However, just a couple of days ago, a three-member committee constituted by the president recommended a quick passage of the Hindu Marriage Registration Bill, which is a good step in the right direction.

Christians are no better off in a country where they have always been considered as second-class citizens. It is even more painful for those who, like millions of Muslims, migrated from Hindu majority areas of present day India and came to Pakistan because the Quaid promised them equality and safeguards for their rights. But sadly, since the day Pakistan came into being, a large majority of low-income Christian Pakistanis are employed in menial jobs. Well, if this is our attitude as Muslims towards non-Muslim Pakistanis, we cannot complain about Hindus migrating to India where at least they would not be harmed in the name of religion.

The recent case of Rimsha Masih is bringing out new surprises with every passing day. The cleric who was booked in the case might be bailed out after the statements of three witnesses were recorded in front of the magistrate. The reason is that the said witnesses withdrew their statements. These witnesses stated in court that the police coerced them into giving their original statements.

However, a new development occurred in Karachi that was welcomed by non-Muslims and human rights groups alike. A blasphemy case using Section 295-A of the PPC was registered against nine persons that attacked the Hindu temple in Karachi. The SHO of the concerned police station was of the view that the desecration of a Hindu temple is also blasphemy because by doing so the attackers hurt the religious feelings of the Hindu Pakistanis.

It is sad that when groups of responsible citizens protest against the unequal treatment of non-Muslim Pakistanis and hold demonstrations or raise their voice for them, they are termed as liberals, seculars or as extreme as blasphemers. Salmaan Taseer, the late governor of Punjab, was murdered by a fanatic who was among his own security guards. The only reason was that he raised his voice in favour of a Christian woman who was indicted in a blasphemy case.

The term ‘liberal’ is always misconstrued by extremist groups. They consider it as an extension of western beliefs and values. On the other hand, liberalism demands equality for every citizen and freedom with responsibility, which is not an exclusively western concept.

Pakistan separated from united India on the grounds that the rights of Muslims were not safe. However, now 65 years down the road, we are doing the same to non-Muslim Pakistanis in our country. We are not allowing them equal rights and equal opportunities. As a result, they are growing weary of the country and its people. Hindus want to migrate to India because they feel their rights will be safeguarded in that country.

History is repeating itself. Non-Muslim Pakistanis do not feel safe here anymore. They want to move to a place where they have the freedom of expression and the freedom to practice their religion with no extremist elements harming or threatening to harm them. We need to review our actions. As a country, we need to include Non-Muslim Pakistanis in the fold so that they do not feel alienated and long for a new home away from home.

The writer is a development consultant and can be reached at coordinator@individualland.com