The lackluster official response to growing attacks on minorities and those who stand for their rights from the majority gives an impression that we have started to view our minorities as a liability for the country. A weak government structure and stagnant democratic system has generated genuine concerns about the future of minorities in Pakistan. It seems fascist religious forces have already taken the entire state system hostage.
While the killing of Mr. Bhatti contributed a new chapter of shame for this country, it brought tears of fear and insecurity in the eyes of the 5% non-Muslim population. This tragic event is not a coincidence. There are several valid reasons to link the minority affairs minister’s murder with the blasphemy law, which led, only two months ago, to the murder of Salmaan Taseer, the liberal governor of the Punjab.
The Punjabi Taliban have accepted responsibility for the killing of the federal minister who spent his entire life for the rights of the minorities in this country. His murderers are unlikely to be punished because no one else but the chief minister of Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif has once again come forward to defend the Punjabi Taliban. Instead of publicly unfolding a policy to dismantle the networks of the Punjabi Taliban, Mr. Sharif said Punjabi Taliban did not exist. The CM, who had once publicly begged Taliban to spare his province (Punjab) because “we share the same goals”, has reprimanded Interior Minister Rehman Malik by saying that the latter was trying to ‘weaken the federation’ by using terms like “Punjabi Taliban”. “There is no such thing as Punjabi Taliban,” said the adamant chief minister.
Pakistan Muslim League’s soft corner for extremist Islamic groups is deplorable. After all, it is the country’s largest opposition party which means it has to provide some hope to the nation in the wake of ruling Pakistan People’s Party’s failure to deal with the menace of religious fundamentalism. Such attitude will not only send a negative message among the members of the minority communities but it will also lead to loss of public hope in the government which is primarily responsible to weed out the non-state actors.
This country has enormously suffered because of the regressive policies inducted by former military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq. We surely had no control over the policies when they were inducted three decades ago but now we at least have the opportunity to get rid of them. If the government does not learn any lessons from the murders of Taseer and Bhatti, more people, including ordinary members of the minorities’ community as well as high-profile ministers and advisers, will have to meet a similar fate.
Inaction on the part of the government clearly leads to encouragement of religious fanatics. It is still not too late to reverse the whole process of fanaticism if their high-profile supporters, like Mr. Sharif and his ministers, agree to withdraw direct or indirect (im)moral and political support to these extremist groups.
As we grapple with the burning question of the future of the minorities, it is pertinent to draw the attention of Balochitan government over the state of the Hindu community. The provincial government has failed to recover a kidnapped veteran Hindu religious scholar who was abducted on the RCD Highway several weeks ago. Initially, the event drew much criticism and the government also pretended to be acting swiftly to ensure the immediate and safe recovery of the missing Hindu guru. So far, no progress has been made in the case and the sense of alienation among the Hindus keeps rising. Official interest in the matter evaporated as soon as media pressure and protests by the Hindus faded away with the passage of time and lack of result-oriented action.
A democratic government cannot successfully function if it flounders to guard human rights. In every society, governments are expected to take special measures to guard the rights of women, children and religious minorities. In Pakistan, human rights are being violated on multiple fronts. Insecurity has coaxed foreign investors, tourists and professionals flee this country.
One wonders what it is that restricts the federal government to curb extremist Islamic groups. While it has lavishly used all its intelligence capability, weaponry and trained personnel to crush progressive nationalist forces in Balochistan then why the government reluctant to act with the same level of highhandedness with those who are a true threat to the country as well as the humanity.
http://www.thebalochhal.com/2011/03/editorial-our-odium-for-the-minority-word/
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