Minority-friendly Pakistan

Letter January 13, 2017
Being a true Pakistani, it is our duty to respect different faiths, beliefs and religions

FAISALABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said Pakistan will soon be known as a minority-friendly country. This is the great aspiration of every citizen of Pakistan. The religious minorities have been facing severe discrimination in our country for many decades in the environment of deep despair, fear and terror. Muslims are in the majority so it is their religious obligation to protect the rights of all minorities of the country. The non-Muslims population of Pakistan is nearly 10 per cent and Hindus, Christians and Ahmadis make up four million each. They have been contributing for the development and progress of Pakistan in every walk of life. Many Christians have served in the Pakistan Armed Forces, civilian services and other organisations. The first Nobel Prize winning scientist of Pakistan, Dr. Abdus Salam, belonged to the Ahmadi community. Former Chief Justice the Supreme Court of Pakistan Rana Bhagwandas and famous fashion designer Deepak Perwani represent the Hindu community.

A long spell of terrorism and extremism has destroyed the culture of love for all and hatred for none in our society. Being a true Pakistani, it is our duty to respect different faiths, beliefs and religions. I strongly urge the PM to focus outside mere statements to devise and nurture a comprehensive policy to establish Pakistan’s identity as a minority-friendly country.

Engineer Mansoor Ahmed

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2017.

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