Making equality priority

The Sindh government’s plan to initiate a project to protect temples and churches is a much-needed step, especially given the rising incidents of persecution of religious minorities in the province. The Rs400 million project will entail installing security cameras in worship places across Sindh. Places of worship have become increasingly unsafe in the province known for its plurality and diversity. According to a Sindh police report, there were five violent attacks on Hindus temples in the past 20 months. Incidents have been reported in relatively more developed parts of the province such as Hyderabad and Larkana. This persecution has continued not only with respect to places of worship, but incidents of forced conversions, bonded labour and the overall climate of discrimination continues unabated. In many ways, then, launching such a project is too little, too late. It is deeply unfortunate that in a country where religion is given such importance, the belief of others besides that of the majority is always so sidelined that both religious minorities and minority Muslim sects are unsafe in all spheres of public life. In recent years, there has been a rising but undocumented number of Hindus who have left Sindh for India and other parts of the world. Same is the case with any other minority group.



It should be appreciated that the Pakistan Peoples Party at least recognises the threats faced by minorities and intends to take some immediate steps. The correction to the problem, however, lies elsewhere. It lies in fixing the mindset that believes in the superiority of their belief and the right to kill, discriminate and oppress without any fear of accountability. It also lies in the curriculum taught to schoolchildren and the laws that do not treat all as equal. Pakistan desperately needs to resolve these problems, and not only by surveillance and security cameras but in the hearts and minds of its people. It is hoped that the Sindh government project falls through and more tangible, long-term steps are taken to protect the land of sufis and saints from prejudice and intolerance.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2016.

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