Save minorities, save Pakistan

Ray

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Save minorities, save Pakistan

Punishment against those involved in vigilantism and mob behaviour against minorities has to be in place. Today, if minorities are being targeted, tomorrow there will be targeting based on political beliefs or financial status

"I went to the west and saw Islam, but no Muslims; I went back to the East and saw Muslims but no Islam." The unfortunate part of Muhammad Abduh's 18th century observation of the Islamic world is that it holds the exact (if not more) value today in the Muslim world than it did when he first felt such a dichotomy. The curse of colonisation, or the abuse of religion by its guardians — depending upon whom you talk to — is something for which the answer varies. The fact, however, does not change that every day, more minority members suffer and even more minority members take asylum in foreign countries.

To deal with the minority issue we have to anchor our efforts in the community that suffers the worst form of persecution so that there is a bottom up rights movement. We may refer to the African-American community that faced the worst kind of discrimination in the US but became a domino that brought the civil rights movement to other marginalised groups.

The general public in Pakistan may have sympathy for minorities but when it comes to the Ahmedi community, our human sympathy tends to fizzle out. It does not matter what level of education or profession one may belong to, the rights of Ahmedis is an issue that even military dictators and so-called revolutionary leaders who talk about "change" and "insaaf" (justice) fall short of discussing. Recently in parliament the question of Ahmedis popped up in relation to the religion section in the passport. The newer and younger parliamentarians, it is reported, tried to argue on the purpose of this section in the passport but were told by the senior lot to remain silent on the subject because "nothing" could be done. As one of the senior MNAs suggested, "While we might not be able to change the status of Ahmedis or other minorities in Pakistan and stop the persecution, we do silently safeguard in our capacity their rights."

What may surprise many readers is that whatever little rights Ahmedis or other minorities do have at the moment in Pakistan is because within the upper echelons of the political leadership, civil bureaucracy and the military establishment, sectarianism and anti-Ahmedi sentiment do not wholly prevail. Barely, if ever, have Ahmedis in the police force or bureaucracy faced religious discrimination. Understanding of the Ahmedi question and minority rights is well grounded and debated by intellectuals but what really is the way forward?

Unfortunately, we have two Pakistans here when it comes to the minority issue: a passive Pakistan that silently observes persecution against minorities and does not do anything, and then there is the active Pakistan that will take the law into its own hands against minorities.

A two-pronged strategy is thus needed to counter both the passive and active persecution of minorities in the country. As a starter, given the repeated attacks on minorities in Pakistan, a strong and continuous internal (within the party, government and parliament) and external (public at large) communication against minority persecution from a political leader like Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who has the muscle within the right conservative block, can be extremely effective.

Secondly, punishment against those involved in vigilantism and mob behaviour against minorities has to be in place. Today, if minorities are being targeted, tomorrow there will be targeting based on political beliefs or financial status. It does not end anywhere and has to be stopped in its initial stages.

Third, and most important, is to reform and centralise Friday sermons in mosques. While most of the mosques may not preach hate, there are several that do openly call for the extinction of minorities from Pakistan. Friday sermons must be regulated and monitored, the way it is done in the Middle East. This move will serve to empower the government and it can use the Friday sermons for the purpose of extending its development discourse.

Lastly, strong legislation and action against any sort of hate speech — political, religious or whatever — must be in place. The recent wave of dharnas (sit-ins) in Pakistan has set a wrong precedent that anyone can defame or malign anyone else using hate speech, and in the process radicalise our massive youth. We must realise that this persecution will not end at minorities. We will be the next targets when there will be no more minorities left. Better end it now or fight against it in our streets and colonies in years to come.
Delivering on minority rights is not rocket science. What is needed is a strong leader who has clarity on the significance of this issue for the survival of Pakistan. A third world middle-income country that can develop a nuclear bomb, I am certain, has the capacity to protect its own citizens.

The writer is a freelance columnist
Save minorities, save Pakistan
The true face of schizophrenia called Pakistan.
 

Srinivas_K

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The intolerance exists in the state itself , The land of pure must get rid of minorities is the motto.
 

Srinivas_K

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Title should be..........Save non muslims, save Islamic Pakistan.So that they kill non muslims as per their wish.Present Ind govt doing good thing by giving asylum to Nonmuslims from pure land.Any way it is not a big problem for India, they are just 2% or 4mn.

This is what happens when Peaceful have given power to RULE.... for me Pakis are Indian Muslims before 60 yrs.Like famous saying if u want to know the person ORIGINALITY give him POWER.I hope Indians never vote sickulars in power in India too :namaste:
What did the secular do?? :lol:

India was under them for almost 60 years !!
 

Srinivas_K

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India is not a estate, India under DEMOCRATIC(ofcourse pseudo sickular democratic)rule. :pound:
Dynastic politics needs to be removed from the democratic system. By the way, (no need for votes or elections .... unique , if it is really needed then only politics :cool2:) :boink:
 
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Srinivas_K

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Dynastic politics needs to be removed from the democratic system........... India is democratic,Majority Indians are Idiots.Ok i explain who gave power to Nehru/dynastic family, foolish Indians who voted them.So i don't have a problem with politician son/d'ter come to politics like doctor,actor etc.But problem is ppl voting those Mofo without any credibility :shocked:
 
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Ray

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@Neo felt sorry for the minorities and his advice was that they should go away from Pakistan.

That is the pseudo humanitarianism that afflict the educated Pakistanis.

Be ostriches and avoid the issue with piety that is hollow and gaseously foul.
 
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Srinivas_K

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@Neo felt sorry for the minorities and his advice was that they should go away from Pakistan.

That is the pseudo humanitarianism that afflict the educated Pakistanis.

Be ostriches and avoid the issue with piety that is hollow and gaseously foul.
There are extremists , then there are moderates who do not do violent things but support these extremists, then there are moderates who oppose the extremists but keep their silence and then there are moderates who oppose the extremists and get slaughtered along with the minorities.
 
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Ray

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There are extremists , then there are moderates who do not do violent things but support these extremists, then there are moderates who oppose the extremists but keep their silence and then there are moderates who oppose the extremists and get slaughtered along with the minorities.
They are people who live in denial and yet act as if they have become emancipated and modern!

Schizophrenic.
 

tramp

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Does this mark a change in policy?
If so, what will be its implications for refugees from other countries, including Tamils from Sri Lanka?
Can religion be the basis for granting citizenship?

11,000 Sindhi, Sikh migrants in Indore to get citizenship

Sunday, 16 November 2014 Last Updated on Sunday, 16 November 2014 08:35 Published Date Written by The Free Press Journal
Sikhs migrants



It's time for celebration, as 11000 city-based Sindhis and Sikhs, who migrated from Pakistan and Afghanistan prior to December 31, 2009, get Indian citizenship.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has reduced the minimum stay period of migrants of both countries from 7 years to 2.6 years. The orders in this regards were issued on Friday.

The Narendra Modi-led BJP Government has given this gift to over 1 lakh migrant Sindhis (Hindus) and Sikhs by granting them Indian citizenship, who completed 2.6 years of stay in India.

General Secretary of Sindhi Samaj, Indore (Regd) Prakash Parwani said that over 11000 of both the communities, residing in the city, got the benefit.

Out of them, 6,000 have already completed 7 years stay in India while the rest 5000 have completed 2.6 years of stay in Indore (India).

Parwani further said that local leaders of the Sindhi community had been doing efforts for long. After, change of power at Centre, a delegation of the local Sindhi leaders led by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan called on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on July 24 and 25, respectively, in New Delhi.

The delegation acquainted both the leaders about the problems being faced by these people. The announcement made by MHA on Thursday is considered to be the outcome of those efforts.

It is to be noted that the Government of India on November 13, 2014 gave a number of concessions to Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan and Afghanistan. The govt also relaxed procedure for granting them Indian citizenship.

Rajnath Singh approved the proposal for manual acceptance of applications for granting Indian citizenship to minority community nationals of Pakistan and Afghanistan, who entered India prior to December 31, 2009.

PM fulfills his promise

Narendra Modi, during poll campaigning in West Bengal and Rajasthan, said that Pakistani and Bangladeshi Hindu refugees would be treated like Indian citizens if he became Prime Minister.

One lakh in country get benefit

There are about one lakh minority community refugees from Pakistan and Afghanistan living in India. While approving the concessions, the Home Minister directed the Foreigners Division of his ministry that the grievances of these applicants should be addressed.

The move came two months after the Ministry okayed the setting up of a task force to monitor and expedite the process of the citizenship and Long Term Visa (LTV) applications of such persons.
 
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tramp

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Can religion be the basis for citizenship? Why are we not granting citizenship to Taslima Nasrin?

Should India be granting citizenship on a mass scale or should it be considering citizenship on a case to case basis?


I think the policy is same throughout subcontinent !!
 

Srinivas_K

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Can religion be the basis for citizenship? Why are we not granting citizenship to Taslima Nasrin?

Should India be granting citizenship on a mass scale or should it be considering citizenship on a case to case basis?
Taslima Nasrin is a different issue. She has some controversies and that issue also has political angle.

The recent decision of granting citizenship to 4 mn persecuted minorities is based on minority status in foreign countries. This will be done in mass scale.
 

tramp

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The controversy against Nasrin is because of the Taliban mentality of Muslim organisations in India. If BJP govt cannot disregard that, who eise?

Taslima Nasrin is a different issue. She has some controversies and that issue also has political angle.

The recent decision of granting citizenship to 4 mn persecuted minorities is based on minority status in foreign countries. This will be done in mass scale.
 

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