Minorities ready to defend country, says JUI-F leader

Masih remembers non-Muslim servicemen who fought wars for Pakistan

QUETTA: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) minority leader in Balochistan Advocate Nasir Masih on Friday said non-Muslims have played a crucial role in the creation and development of Pakistan.

"We love our country and will lay down every possible sacrifice to defend our motherland whenever required," he expressed these views while addressing a rally held in Quetta to show solidarity with Pakistan Army.

While addressing the rally he said that were number of brave non-Muslim Pakistanis who had put their lives on the line to defend their homeland against a mightier Indian military in the war of 1965.

Air Commodore Nazir Latif was awarded Sitara-e-Jurat twice for his services in 1965 and 1971 wars. Squadron Leader Peter Christy was bestowed with the title 'Master Fighter', Squadron Leader Peter Christy was a navigator of the 7th Bomber Squadron.  He was also awarded Sitara-e-Jurat for flying B-57 during the1965 war.

Likewise, Group Captain Cecil Chaudhary was known to have shot down three Indian aircraft in a single mission during the 1965 war and was awarded Sitara-e-Jurat and Tamgha-e-Jurat for his bravery.

"Pakistan Army remains a symbol of national integration and respects rights of religious minorities in Pakistan,” he remarked adding the minority communities are not being ill-treated or tormented the way they are being victimised, tortured, humiliated and murdered as in India.



Masih further said Pakistan was formed in the name of providing refuge to the minorities of pre-partition India i.e. the Muslims, but the nascent country opened its doors to people of all other religions.

"Although the country went on to become an Islamic republic, its minority population continued to serve and represent the country in every field, including education, arts, literature, science, and even defence", he added.

“Pakistan doesn’t want war and only desires peace,” he said adding India should benefit from this attitude of Pakistan.

The JUI-F leader concluded his speech by saying the whole nation is proud of the valor which the armed forces had shown to defend the country against Indian aggression.