Political parties should not play with the sentiments of minorities for political point-scoring
LAHORE: This refers to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s address at a minorities ceremony at the Katas Raj Temple in Chakwal. While addressing the audience, the PM said the day is not far when Pakistan will be recognised as a minorities-friendly country and that his government is taking steps to improve the lives of underrepresented religious groups. The three-time premier and the PML-N’s central leader supposedly said in a dramatic style, “Salam, Namaste, Sat Sri Akaal and good morning to all my brothers belonging to different religions.” He further said that he was the PM of all Pakistanis and not just Muslim Pakistanis.
Before this, Pakistan Peoples Party’s Chairman Mr Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also expressed his wish to see a Christian as the PM of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. As a matter of fact, the Constitution of Pakistan bars any non-Muslim from becoming prime minister or president of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, so it is evident that the said statement was purely emotional to gain sympathy of voters belonging to minority groups. After the statement, young Bilawal faced a lot of criticism from Muslim religious political parties, which is why PM Nawaz Sharif used careful words and limited himself to saying that he wants to see Pakistan as a minorities-friendly country to avoid any criticism from Muslim religious political parties.
I have a humble suggestion to make to our political parties not to play with the sentiments of minorities of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and not use them for political point-scoring. If you sincerely want to do something for the minorities, you are requested to nominate minority political leaders for your respective political party slots as well as to bound your parties to allot party tickets on general seats to minority candidates to show real solidarity and interfaith harmony with them, in spite of just political statements because actions speak louder than words.
Emmanuel Yousaf
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2017.
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