ACCORDING to to your news report, the Islamabad High Court issued a short order making a declaration of faith mandatory before joining the judiciary, armed forces, civil services and other government jobs.

The verdict also says that an affidavit must be sworn by applicants to get CNIC, passport, birth certificate, for registration in voters’ list and appointment in government and semi-government institutions, especially the judiciary, armed forces and civil services.

The court also declares that the appointment of non-Muslims to constitutional posts is against the law.

I was grieved after reading this news in your paper.Why are we making this country an unliveable place for non-Muslims? This judgement is against the wishes of our founder. The Quaid was concerned about the well-being of non-Muslims. While addressing the people in 1948, he said:

“In any case, Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic state to be ruled by priests with a divine mission. We have many Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Parsis. They are all Pakistanis.They will enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other citizen and they will play their rightful part.

“It doesn’t matter what religion we belong to or do not belong to. We are all Pakistanis irrespective of our faith and must have equal rights without any discrimination whatsoever.”

Also , while addressing the Constituent Assembly on Augt 11, 1947, he said: “You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the state. We should at least listen to the Quaid and stop discriminating our non-Muslim brothers and make Pakistan livable for all.

Dr Khurrum Fiazuddin
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2018