THIS is apropos of Irfan Husain’s article ‘Muslims and minorities’ (Jan 28). The discrimination of minorities is at its highest peak among the uneducated and illiterate segment of our society. Mr Husain has rightly asserted that “we treat our minorities neither equally nor fairly” and our heads hang in shame when human rights organisations declare “Pakistan as the most brutal countries when it comes to the treatment of minorities”.

A country in which its citizens should be free to go to their temples, mosques, and churches is facing the worst kind of religious intolerance. The Quaid had declared that “religion will have nothing to do with the affairs of the state”. It is the duty of our scholars to come forward to educate people about what Islam teaches us.

I know a Muslim Pakistani family who lost their young son on 9/11 in the US. When the grief-stricken parents visited the US, they were treated only as the parents of the young man. The house in which the boy used to reside was opened for the parents by the company in which the boy was employed. They were provided all facilities like free overseas calls, chauffer-driven car, food, etc., and were told they could stay there as long as they wished. On their visit to Ground Zero they were provided a psychologist by the state and were given liberty to carry out any religious duties whatsoever. Somebody even was carrying a pack of tissue papers to offer them in case they broke down in tears. This is the tolerance and respect of minorities in a country whose national flag we burn at every unfortunate happening in our country.

As a common citizen, I am not very optimistic about our political leadership extending a helping hand in this regard, specifically when it is a sensitive and religious issue. I still remember when a member of the National Assembly from the minorities got up from his seat on a point of order, but was asked to sit down using an extremely offensive and insulting language from another member. The insulting and derogatory remarks were not even expunged by the chair.

Our attitude towards minorities has always been shameful, biased, and disgraceful. It is better we remove the white from our flag which represents the minorities of the country.

On almost all the occasions our media failed to fulfil its obligations. It is the foremost duty of the media to educate the masses on the status of minorities granted to them in the Constitution of Pakistan with particular reference to the teachings of Islam.

The media should educate how non-Muslims were treated and respected during the early period of Islam. But now the case is opposite to the teachings of Islam and internationally recognised norms and practices. Civil society is also a silent spectator.

I am for equality, tolerance and justice for all irrespective of caste, creed or religion.

AAMIR AQIL Lahore