Minority rights

The Founder of the Nation wanted Pakistan to be a state where all communities could coexist peacefully and prosper. However, the reality has turned out to be quite different. Minorities in Pakistan face insecurity and discrimination. In recent years, right-wing segments have targeted entire neighbourhoods where minorities reside, with the most recent incident occurring in Faisalabad's Jaranwala tehsil. A more recent example of insecurity was when participants of the Minorities Rights March in Karachi this past Sunday were confined to the premises of Frere Hall in view of threats from certain religious groups against the event. A genuine assessment is needed to understand how and why the state has failed its non-Muslim citizens and has not addressed its shortcomings over more than seventy years as an independent nation.

After every violent act, the repetitive cycle of superficial condemnations and arrests aimed at appeasement reflects the state's failure to address the minorities' rights issue effectively. Negligent policing and poor conviction rates embolden those who routinely target minority groups. Rather than remaining in denial, the state must actively work to reverse the rising tide of extremism that is engulfing the country. The political leadership needs to emphasise interfaith harmony and take concrete steps to curb hate speech and manipulation of religion by certain actors. Rather than tip-toeing around the issue, the leadership of the country needs to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its minorities. A lot needs to change in this country. The non-Muslim citizens have made great contributions to the progress and development of Pakistan. The least the state can do is to ensure they are not treated as second-rate citizens and are given their due rights as enshrined in the Constitution. We should not fail those represented by the white in our flag.