Candlelight vigil: Minorities’ protection demanded

ISLAMABAD:

A handful of students gathered in front of the National Press Club on Saturday to denounce religious extremism and demand protection for Pakistan’s religious minorities.

Members of the Beydaar Society Islamabad, a youth cultural society, called for interfaith harmony in Pakistan.

They carried placards inscribed with messages of peace and tolerance from various world religions.

Hussain Haider, who led the group of demonstrators, said the state of religious freedom and security is abysmal in the country.

Haider said every religion instructs its followers to be peaceful and tolerant. Messages of peace in religious texts should be emphasised to counter intolerance and extremism, he said.

Around two dozen participants staged a “Peace Walk” from the press club to China Chowk and back. They chanted slogans, saying that every religion’s followers in Pakistan have equal claim on the country. The demonstrators also condemned the role of religious leaders who exploit people in the name of religion. The participants held a candlelight vigil outside the press club in memory of those who have lost their lives due to religious extremism.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2013.