Pakistan

Is this Jinnah’s Pakistan?

Faheem Younus June 03, 2010

BEL AIR: As an Ahmadi of Pakistani descent, I commend Raza Rumi and thank your newspaper for publishing his timely article “Is this Jinnah’s Pakistan?” (May 30). Jinnah envisioned a Pakistan where all minorities would have equal rights. He said in his 1948 radio address to the US: “Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic state, to be ruled by priests with a divine mission. We have many non-Muslims – Hindus, Christians, and Parsis – but they are all Pakistanis.” And he lived up to his promise by taking minority members in his first cabinet.

The Pakistani government has not done enough to protect minorities from the Taliban who are driven by a divine mission to kill. Rather than inciting violence against helpless minorities through banners, posters, fatwas, and talk show hosts, the government should live up to Jinnah’s vision by removing laws from Pakistan’s constitution that limit freedom of religion.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (2)

Raza Rumi | 14 years ago | Reply Faheem: thanks for your comment. Indeed, we have moved away from Jinnah's vision. Perhaps this is why we are in such a dire situation. RR

Qasim Rashid | 14 years ago | Reply This is a very well written letter with a profound message. As long as Pakistan insists on backing religious extremists, it will never be the Pakistan Jinnah envisioned. Once Pakistan returns to its roots, it will return to success. As long as Pakistan insists on giving religious extremists undeserved power, it submits to the violence they promulgate on a daily basis.

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