With mounting pressure from the people of the locality, the police finally filed blasphemy and terrorism charges against eight Ahmadis. PHOTO: FILE
The authorities must prevent such hate-mongers from targeting the minorities before the situation gets out of control. As it is, Pakistan does not have much to show as far as its human rights record where the minorities are concerned. They have often been subjected to social stigmatisation and insecurity at the hands of the militants, who have gained impetus over the years.
Tolerance and interfaith harmony were part and parcel of the original doctrine of Pakistan. Unfortunately, previous governments did very little to support this school of thought. The ruling factions of the 1970s and 1980s gave much support to the obscurantist forces through the institutionalisation of isolation of minorities, especially the Ahmadi community, by enshrining anti-minority laws in our Constitution. No government has been able to repeal the Blasphemy Law.
The Ahmadis have traditionally been a peaceful lot and have shown great restraint despite consistent persecution and targeted attacks. As citizens of Pakistan, we must not forget that the white portion in our national flag represents the minorities. Now, the very same white portion has been tainted with the blood of the minorities. We must end this dangerous trend before the entire flag turns red due to intolerance and bigotry.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2013.
COMMENTS (19)
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Courageous and bold editorial. Well done Tribune.
Sad but true.
I fully appreciate the express tribune for this courageous editorial.
@wrong:
"is there any lack of abuse by Pakistani nation and Government against Ahmadis…no….."
You are correct. There is no lack of abuse of Ahmadis or Shia.
@Water Bottle: definition of stockholm syndrome is as under: Stockholm syndrome, or capture–bonding, is a psychological phenomenon in which hostages express empathy and sympathy and have positive feelings toward their captors, sometimes to the point of defending them. These feelings are generally considered irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims, who essentially mistake a lack of abuse from their captors for an act of kindness is there any lack of abuse by Pakistani nation and Government against Ahmadis...no..... so your theory becomes wrong....
@Water Bottle: @Mirza Imran Ahsan: "So which is it in your case? Jingoism or Stockholm Syndrome? I think it’s the latter."
Mr. Water Bottle your question is directed towards Ahsan saheb but to me it is neither jingoism nor Stockholm Syndrome it is survival strategy.
A blasphemy law passed in 1974 to stigmatise and oppress Ahmadis is now responsible for oppression of many, even shias according to recent news in UK. It is for these reasons that Almighty Allah left each person free to make their own decisions about their faith and no man can decide for them. Are the clerics of Pakistan putting themselves above God? Islam means peace crated through obedience to Allah - where is there peace in the Muslim world today? Where is there obedience to Allah?
I appreciate the express tribune for the courageous editorial. There're many good Pakistanis who think and sometimes speak against the unjust treatment of the govmnts but most of them are just watching.
@Mirza Imran Ahsan:
"We have lots of options including moving out of the country but we will never abandon our love of Pakistan even by living outside. This love will ultimately triumph"
Well Mirza, jingoism helps no one. Why would an Ahmadi have love for Pakistan if his beloved Nabi was born in India? It makes no logical sense except when explained through jingoism or Stockholm Syndrome.
So which is it in your case? Jingoism or Stockholm Syndrome? I think it's the latter.
@p r sharma: We have lots of options including moving out of the country but we will never abandon our love of Pakistan even by living outside. This love will ultimately triumph.
We are ready to die for the cause of faith. We will defeat the Mullah.
You, may recall that Sir Mohammed Zafrullah Khan and Prof. Abdus Salam both retained their Pakistani nationality until their death. Both of them could easily have obtained another passport if they wanted to.
@Mirza Imran Ahsan: Keep hoping.for the better ( you don't have any other option)
@Water Bottle: Thanks Water Bottle for your suggestions. We Ahmadis will remain Pakistanis until we die, but mind it we also live in 202 countries (out of total 234 countries and territories in the world). The sorry state of affairs in our beloved Pakistan is because of religious extremists who also put stress on freedom of thought and expression in this country. The ExpressTribune's journalism and editorials are a breath of fresh air. Despite all the suffering we have overwhelming commonalities to hope for a better future coming. We share the same language, culture and the general religious beliefs with majority of Pakistanis, however not the extremists doctrines attributed to Islam now. This phenomenon is new to the region and brought in during the Soviet Afghan war. Unfortunately elements within our political leadership and military operators exploited such coersive religious philosophies for beating Soviets. They did succeed but at the expense of plunging Pakistan into an age of similar to Medieval Europe under Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain. Ahmadis still love this country and will continue to work for its progress only if given freedom. They have all the potentials to do this being a very educated and progressive community.
The forces of darkness will haunt us as long as our security apparatus control the affairs of the state. Still we believe that these mercenaries are our strategic assets.
@Mirza Imran Ahsan:
Why can't you leave pakistan? I am not saying you should. But I wonder if you can find an alternative to this. Because I don't see anything positive happening to the Ahmediya community.
"Tolerance and interfaith harmony were part and parcel of the original doctrine of Pakistan. "
How long can you keep uttering this rubbish?! Intolerance is the very reason why Pakistan was created.
Now, I seriously wonder what do Shia and Ahmadis of pakistan think of Pakistan! Do they think that the creation of Pakistan was a blunder or that their parents should have stayed back in India or something else?
may this editorial brought some good gestures from ruling portion also.ET always highlighted this issue for which it is due admirable.white portion of flag now stands for our misdeeds with minorities.Pakistan listed under worse countries in Human Rights record.whereas situation is getting worse day by day.authorities should pay some heed to it other wise flames will burn their nest also.
As an Ahmadi I thank you for this good piece of editorial. However, I would still - as an Ahmadi - keep my right to call myself Muslim and avoid the term minority. Why can't we all be Pakistanis? This case is clear travesty of justice against the Ahmadiyya community in a major urban city of this province. Ahmadis are not even allowed to pray in their own houses and places of worship. Instead of removing the anarchist crowd and protect Ahmadis, they were themselves being arrested by Police. We are not afraid of these Mullahs, however, we expect the caretaker Punjab government to take action and break their silence and protect its citizens, in this case Ahmadis. Unfortunately in Pakistani politics spreading hatred can also be gainfully employed to win elections in certain constituencies. Pakistani religious parties have always used Ahmadiyya issue to propagate their political ambitions and this incident might be a ploy by some parties including PML-N to further their cause by spreading hatred through violence and intimidation.