ON the National Minority Day, the National Assembly adopted a resolution demanding the secular vision of the Quaid-i-Azam about the status of religious minorities in Pakistan as the country’s roadmap for the future.

The Quaid had announced in unambiguous words in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on Aug 11, 1947: “You are free to go to your temples; you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed — that has nothing to do with the business of the state.”

The constitution gives equal rights to all citizens without discrimination of their faith. All succeeding governments had been making endeavours to implement the Quaid’s vision; but regrettably some religious groups had been creating hurdles. They are out to destroy social integration and interfaith harmony by sowing the seeds of hatred against the minorities.

The problem of religious prejudices did exist on the day the country came into being; but, it spread like cancer when the Constitution was amended in 1974 to declare a particular sect as a non-Muslim community.

This is not to pass remarks in favour or against the ousted community or the constitutional amendment. This is, however, to point out that after having been declared a non-Muslim community, they are still human beings, patriotic Pakistanis and have the same rights as all others do.

This amendment, as a matter of fact, did embolden religious extremists. They expected more such amendments would be brought about for some others as well.

M. S.
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2015

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