The government needs to work towards welfare of minority groups; the first step in this regard would be to take the steps mentioned in the manifestoes of political parties. Women members of the provincial assembly on Friday expressed concern regarding widespread hate content against minority groups in Pakistan. They said the steps the government promised to take to protect minorities must be implemented without delay.
Women parliamentarians expressed these views at a consultation meeting with South Asia Partnership Pakistan (SAP-PK) under the banner of REAT Network on Friday. They said the government needed to take immediate steps to change prejudicial mindsets regarding religious minority groups. The status accorded to minorities by Islam should be extended to them in letter and spirit, they said. “Focusing on what brings us together could be one way towards it.”
A report reflecting an increasing inclusion of hate content in school curricula was presented at the seminar. Participants were informed that percentage of hate material in school books had risen by 250% between 2011 and 2013. This study showed that there were 82 words in 19 chapters of school textbooks of various levels in 2011; this had risen to 333 lines in 2013 and the number of chapters had gone up to 119. Parliamentarians expressed concern over this increase. They said if immediate steps were not taken to curb this, the situation could worsen.
MPA Mary Gill said since Pakistan was an Islamic state, the least the government could do was ensure minorities get the protection and safeguards that Islam guaranteed. She said the education sector too must be reformed.
MPAs Nighat Sheikh, Nabeera Indleeb, Saira Iftikhar, Dr Najma Afzal, Tahseen Fawad, Salma Butt, Nasreen Nawaz, Farzana Butt and Ramesh Singh Arora also spoke on the occasion. They said children were being taught a distorted version of history that completely excluded members of minority groups who sacrificed a lot for the country. Changing mindsets and perceptions should begin at home, they said.
Participants stressed on the implementation of welfare promises and safeguards mentioned in party manifestoes. They said a minority protection policy should be framed and implemented in letter and spirit.
Gill said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was working towards a minority protection policy that would be announced soon.
Participants expressed their support for quotas for students from religious minority groups in admissions to colleges and universities. Members of parliament on reserved seats demanded that ulema play a constructive role in creating a society based on the principals of equality. They [ulema] should sensitise their congregations regarding minorities and encourage them to respect each other without discrimination.
SAP-PK National Programme Coordinator Hameed Gondal discussed how manifestoes of political parties promised welfare and protection of religious minorities. He said most of them highlighted that minorities were protected by the Constitution and international covenants.
He emphasised the need to promote a culture of equality in the country.
He said state institutions should also play an active role to make Pakistan a safe haven for every citizen.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th, 2014.
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