FOR a while I have noticed that announcements made in our daily newspapers for vacancies, particularly sanitary workers do not use the term non-Muslim as they used to but specifically write ‘Christians only’.

Why is this so? Are such jobs predestined just for members of the Christian community?

I thought Islam said that cleanliness is half of your faith…

While sanitary work is not a bad thing and something that has to be done, I feel that isolating a particular religious community is insensitive. It hurts our feelings.

Christians who live in Pakistan have also made sacrifices for the country just like everyone else. Over the years, members of the community have excelled and succeeded as CSS officers, doctors, engineers, teachers and lawyers.

Christian teachers have contributed greatly to our country. Many former prime ministers, presidents, politicians went to missionary schools. We have also produced great sportsmen such as John Permal — Pakistan’s fastest man, who recently passed away. Permal became Pakistan’s fastest man after he finished second in the 1965 Lahore Games. Gert Metz, who was a German athlete, won the run. Permal also won a gold medal for Sindh in the 400 metres relay at the National Games at Dacca in 1968.

As a teacher myself, I request higher authorities to please look at their words before sending anything to print.

Anthony Sahotra
Larkana

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2019