Difficult to be vocal about minorities in Pakistan: Osman Khalid Butt

The actor believes many remain quiet because they're scared they'll suffer the same fate as the oppressed

Popular actor Osman Khalid Butt has spoken again and this time with reference to an incident that happened ten years ago.

In his latest tweet, the actor explains why it is difficult for people to call out discrimination against religious minorities in Pakistan.

Butt believes that speaking in the favour of certain minorities may lead the majority to suffer the same fate as the oppressed. Thus, it is out of the fear of that backlash that many tend to stay quiet.

He writes, "It is difficult for us to come to terms with and be vocal about the discrimination and apartheid of religious minorities in Pakistan - mostly because of fear. We fear the same persecution and ostracism they face almost on a daily basis."

It is difficult for us to come to terms with and be vocal about the discrimination and apartheid of religious minorities in Pakistan - mostly because of fear. We fear the same persecution and ostracism they face almost on a daily basis.

— Osman Khalid Butt 🇵🇸 (@aClockworkObi) June 11, 2020

He then adds another reason why people fail to understand or even take into account the discrimination against these minorities.

"Another reason is that little progress has been made to humanise them beyond statistics and their obvious 'otherness' - a prejudice that has passed on from generation to generation."

Another reason is that little progress has been made to humanize them beyond statistics and their obvious 'otherness' - a prejudice that has passed on from generation to generation.

This beautifully written (and harrowing) piece personalizes the tragedy of May 28, 2010.

— Osman Khalid Butt 🇵🇸 (@aClockworkObi) June 11, 2020

Butt concludes by addressing a thread he shared recalling the Lahore massacre of May 28. 2010 which occurred during the Friday prayers. The incident saw 94 people killed and more than 120 injured in simultaneous attacks against places of worship of a minority community.

Not long ago, actor Ushna Shah had also tweeted along the same tangent. She said, "Imagine if we were allowed to be this enraged for the minorities of our country. We can’t even take to the streets for them. Forget the establishment, our own fundos would label it heresy/blasphemous and execute us."

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