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‘Equal rights for all Pakistanis’: Altaf Hussain’s statement welcomed
The term “minority” should not be used for non-Muslims and they should be considered as equal Pakistanis.
A newly-formed organisation has welcomed the statement of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain, supporting equal rights for all religions.
The Forum for Secular Pakistan (FSP) said on Thursday that it supports the point of view that the term “minority” should not be used for non-Muslims and they should be considered as equal Pakistanis and given equal opportunities in every sphere of life.
The present sectarian and communal violence in the country cannot be stopped unless the state amends its constitution to give equal rights to the people without any discrimination on the basis of religion, sect and ethnicity, the statement said.
At present there are “many” laws that have curtailed the people’s right of expression. The state-issued certificates identifying Muslims and non-Muslims do not help the matter. These laws are biased against non-Muslims in violation of the UN Human Rights Charter, said the statement.
The statement said state institutions are supporting and funding many obscurantist organisations in the country including madrassas, which have become the breeding ground for extremists.
Politics should be separated from religion as this the only way to control the rising wave of terrorism in the country, the statement said. To this end, the political parties should show courage and oppose the violent means adopted by religious and ethnic militant organisations.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 20th, 2012.
Reader Comments (5)
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hmm so know you dont dont want special treatment for minorities ? perhaps you dont understand how Islamic Democracy works and want to conform to western standards. In Islamic Democracy, minorities have autonomy over their own affairs, in pakistan sikhs can get married they cant in India. Minority just means you are a minority, why does he have a problem with that ? so that he can complian when they are no longer called minorities ??
we dont want secularism or jihadism ! we want 1972 constitution as it is
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“Equal rights for all Pakistanis” living in UK; you dummies!
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Pretty good indication.
But a institution has been overlooked deliberately
which is crossing its limits set by the constitution.
Judiciary and executive has become combat forces
for each other that is not good omen for the country’s future.
Are you talking about minorities,majority is passing through a
long dark tunnel and there is no light at the end of it.
M.Q.M.chief statement is timely and enough for those busy in dividing
share in politics overlooking the country’s stability,integrity,sovereignty
and security.
No doubt ,it is eye-opener statement.
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All the points raised therein are very important
and acceptable..
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Mr. Altaf said exactly what Jinnah’s vision was about Pakistan. We have drifted far away bowing before radical religious extremist who want to destroy the unity of Pakistani nation. CJ is the CJ for all but has not taken any action for non Muslims. Pakistan cannot and will not grow forward as a nation unless there is unity. Religious extremists want to destroy. We have one of the best forces in the world but cannot bottleneck this problem. Recommend