Umerkot rally: Celebrating Holi, Bilawal makes case for minority rights

Says PPP does not want separate Pakistan for non-Muslims, women

HYDERABAD/ KARACHI:

As he celebrated Holi with the Hindu community of Umerkot on Thursday, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that his party does not want a Pakistan where Muslims and non-Muslims are treated differently.

“We don’t want a different Pakistan for Muslims and a different one for Hindus. We don’t want a different Pakistan for men and a different one for women,” he told a public meeting. “If a Muslim can become president of India, then why can’t someone from a minority community be appointed to an important position in Pakistan?”

Assuring the Hindu community of PPP’s support for providing them equal rights, he pointed out that the Sindh Assembly had passed several laws to protect minorities and women. “For the first time in 68 years of Pakistan, the elected Sindh Assembly and Sindh government passed the Hindu Marriage Act. Sindh is also the only province which declared a public holiday for Holi festival,” he said.

The PPP chairman said Sindh would soon pass a law against forced conversions. He urged all other provinces to enact similar laws as well.

Bilawal criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government in Punjab for legislating a ‘weak law’ to protect women from violence. He argued that the new law does not prevent the actual violation of women’s rights. “But still I congratulate Punjab’s lawmakers for the bill.”

The PPP leader said he was told that Umerkot district does not have gas supply and the women continue to use firewood for cooking. “Sindh produces the highest amount of gas [in Pakistan] and the province’s people have the first right over this natural resource.”

He requested the federal government to provide gas to Umerkot, warning that he will launch a protest along with the district’s people if their demand is not accepted.

He urged the Hindu community and women to support the PPP, assuring that he will fight for their rights.

Qaim congratulates Bilawal

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on Thursday congratulated Bilawal and the rest of the PPP leadership for holding a ‘historic’ rally in Umerkot. In a statement issued by the Sindh Chief Minister’s House, Qaim said PPP is a party with deep roots among the masses.

“Under the umbrella of PPP, people of all walks of life, different schools of thought, of different religion, sects and languages are united. Our party is like a rainbow in which all religio-political and socio-cultural colours of the federation are illuminated,” he said.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2016.