Minorities’ dilemma in Pakistan

It was only six decades ago when an Indian minority sought independence. A line was drawn, dividing the Muslims from an over-powering majority in India, and Pakistan was created, back in 1947.

Many citizens in Pakistan are spending their lives facing ingrained social and religious prejudices against them. Many of them, who have capabilities, left the country while the rest are waiting for a new and promising dawn of a better future.

After the partition, Pakistan has a history of social, economic and political discrimination and injustice towards minorities at every level. Muslims, the majority of the country believe that the country had been created in the name of Islam and only they have a right to live here.

At the present scenario, our founder, Qauid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah will be certainly turning in his grave, as even Muslims are not united in the country and sectarianism is eating it up from within.

The Pakistani flag is incomplete without the vivid white strip that represents minorities. However, the religious majority has not only forgotten Jinnah’s vision but also the teachings of Islam.

Quran, the Holy Book of Muslims, clearly tells that there is no compulsion in religion. But, some misguided Muslims sects still attempt to forcibly convert non-Muslims to Islam.

Media reported many incidents of forcible marriages of non-Muslims women to Muslim men. I don’t know what good such acts may do for the religion.

The Sindh High Court (SHC), in its recent orders, ordered the police to recover a Hindu girl, Rinkle Kumari, who was said to be kidnapped from Mirpur Mathelo, forced to embrace Islam and marry with a Muslim boy.

The family moved the court as the local authorities according to them refused to help. Although the girl along with his newly married husband claimed that she herself embraced Islam without any pressure, his family is not satisfied.

A specific sect under state-sponsorship has made the lives of minorities and even different Muslim sects so miserable. Numerous incidents have been reported in the recent past about abductions of affluent Hindus for ransom in different parts of Sindh and Balochistan.

According to the media reports, as many as ten Hindus families migrated to India every month in fear of their lives and properties.

Peace and harmony among different ethnic and religious groups is prerequisite for the progress of a diverse society. The fanaticism should be condemned at all levels otherwise it will prove a sinkhole for our country.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=15172

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Mar 9 2012. Filed under Opinion, Pakistan, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.