PESHAWAR: Representatives of different political parties and civil society organisations at a discussion on “religious freedom and minorities rights” have proposed review of the textbooks and removal of objectionable stuff from them to ensure interfaith harmony and avoid hatred on the basis of religion.

The discussion was organised by South Asia Partnership-Pakistan (SAP-PK) here at a local hotel on Wednesday.

The participants condemned the killing of several members of minorities community during the past some months and expressed solidarity with relatives of the victims. They demanded of the government to arrest the killers forthwith and also take effective steps for protection of minorities.

Those who spoke on the occasion included All Pakistan Hindu Rights Movement chairman Haroon Sarb Diyal, Agha Bakhtiar of Pakistan Workers Party, Qari Bashir of JUI-F, journalist Shamim Shahid, PTI MPA Ziaullah Bangash, Nigah Hussain of PPP, Jamila Gilani of ANP, Rakhshanda Naz and Taimor Kamal of civil society and Sikander Zaman, SAP-PK regional manager for KP and Fata. No member of the Sikh community participated in the meeting reportedly due to fear and Mr Diyal briefed the participants about their grievances.

Mr Diyal said that they were feeling insecure in the prevailing situation. He held the present curriculum responsible for hatred against non-Muslims, particularly Hindu and Sikh people. “Islam guarantees protection to us and our holy places,” he said and claimed that certain lessens in the present curriculum were inciting the society against the communities, which should be removed.

Speakers demand steps for protection of minorities

Qari Bashir said that Islam provided protection of rights of all people irrespective of their religion and it was the state’s responsibility to ensure security to all. Referring to religious schools being run under Wafaqul Madaris, he said that Islamic lessons were taught there wherein rights of non-Muslims as per Islam were also part of the teachings.

MPA Bangash said that a conspiracy was being hatched against Pakistan through different tactics like targeting people, including the minorities.

He said that all the communities would have to join hands to foil such plots. “Minorities are citizens of this country and they must be given equal rights,” he maintained. The participants decided to hold a meeting with the provincial education minister and chief minister to inform them of the grievances of the non-Muslims so that they could order review of certain lessons in textbooks.

Published in Dawn, September 11th , 2014