KARACHI:
As different ethnic communities make demands for a new province of their own, the Christians have also jumped on to the bandwagon.
Nazir S Bhatti of the Pakistan Christian Congress put up a demand for a separate province for the Christians living in the Punjab.
Bhatti said in a press statement that his community was being victimised. “Religious hatred and extremism is on the rise in Punjab the properties and lives of Christians are not safe anymore.”
Bhatti said the congress has been demanding the formation of a separate province since 1992 and demanded that it should be included in the 20th Amendment draft resolution.
He said that Quaid-e-Azam had called for equal rights for all the religious minorities of the country, but today they were treated as second class citizens.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 10th, 2012.
COMMENTS (19)
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@Aslam Perdesi: Sir you are right.. what is done can not be undone. So we should/must make sure to not let anything of that sort happen again.
@Pakistani Hindu:
I wish if somebody has taught that lesson at the partition in 1947. I guess its already too late!
and they should be allowed to build casinos in the province just like in Indian reservations, legalize prostitution and alcohol. That would make it a tourist heaven something Pakistan was before Bhutto banned alcohol etc.
@PakJam: Second that dear..
@Babloo: @Cynical: @Umar:
why not make Pakistan secular instead of breaking or dividing it on ridiculous basis? No offence but I believe that religion disunites people, secularism conjoins and thrives them.
As per 2-nation theory, people of different religions, cannot live in a single state. So Pakistani Christians should have a seperate state so that they do not disturb the Muslims.
@Mj
Exactly my point.A separate country for christian is a natural progression of 'Two nations theory'.Long live Quaid-e-azam.
@Cynical:
You are so confused and need to understand 2 nation theory. Plus for most part he advocated provincial autonomy, but when that was refused, only then he opted for complete independence. Independence was endorsed in a referendum, there were unionist parties too and they campaigned for their ideology. Democracy prevailed at the end. Learn to live with it.
@Pakistani Hindu
Bro "Unity in Diversity" is also good. I think it is not a bad idea to make smaller provinces, (not on ethnic, linguistic or religious basis) but on administrative basis and give them proper autonomy. US, UK are good examples of unity in diversity and local autonomy.
@Pakistani Hindu
"United we stand, devided we fall".
Alas, you were not there to give this gem of an advice to the champion of 'two nation theory'.
This is ridiculous,Christianity is not an ethnicity it's a religion.
Instead of providing equal status to our brothers, you are talking about making a new province for them that will further isolate them. We must talk about how we can change our attitudes and treat everybody as we would like to be treated by others.
I see some insane comments here and it seems like people write a comment just for the sake of it with out thinking of its consequences.
When Hazara and Seraiki can get a new province why not these people?
Why just a province and not another separate country? Logical progression of two nation theory. We we fearful that Hindu majority won't let us live in peace so we demanded a separate land, and now we treat our minorities in the worst way possible. Hypocrisy at its finest.
"United we stand, divided we fall" I vividly remember the lesson I had learnt in my 4th standard. It was about a farmer who advised his 4 sons to live together peacefully. And the example of bundle of sticks. Ahhh... honestly yaar.. we never learn, sad but we are a pathetic nation.
Two Nation Theory in action. I am sure Pakistanis will support this demand wholeheartedly.
I support this initiative. It may be a very small province but it will provide some level of protection to these Christians. Furthermore, as far as I know, no Pakistani Christian army officer has ever betrayed his country to external intelligence agencies, in spite of the persecution.
A small province is the least we can do. I wonder if Imran Khan will support this.
There should also be a new province for the Hindus living in sindh.There are millions of hindus living in interior sindh and they deserve a new province of their own.