Maryam Imran
Every year on 25th December, the Christian community celebrates the birthday of Jesus Christ around the globe. Pakistan also celebrates this day and the indigenous participate in diverse festivals with full devotion and true spirit. Christmas brings a beacon of hope, happiness, prosperity and exhilaration in society. Pakistan came into being on the basis of equality, justice and fraternity to all and sundry communities. The birth of Jesus is considered as one of the most significant events in the world history. The Jesus Christ took birth on this earth to save humanity from the clutches of oppression and atrocities and lifted the humans from darkness to the state of peace and stability. The Christmas Day is the day of merrymaking and jubilation. The Christians tend to decorate their houses, offices, streets, churches with dazzling lights. They arrange gatherings, parties and seminars with strong determination and commitment.
The protection of the freedom of religious belief and practice of all communities was indeed the predominant right asserted in several propositions and resolutions passed by the All India Muslim League. One of the famous Fourteen Points enumerated by Mohammad Ali Jinnah on proposed constitutional changes was “full religious liberty, i.e. liberty of belief, worship and observance, propaganda, association and education shall be guaranteed to all communities.” Thus the very genesis of Pakistan is grounded in the protection of the religious rights of all, especially those of minorities.
The right to religious conscience being a fundamental right is not subject to any other provision of the Constitution. It is only subject to law, public order and morality and not to any religious clauses of the Constitution of Pakistan. The very term “law, public order and morality” has been used in non-religious terms as the notion of law or public order or morality is not reducible to the Islamic meanings of these terms. There is a general lack of awareness in Pakistan about minority rights. Even the people and those entrusted with enforcement of law are also not fully sensitized to this issue. It needs to be reiterated that under the Constitution of Pakistan 1973, minorities have a special status. Of all the Articles relating to the minorities’ rights, Article 20 is of prime significance. It would be counter intuitive if the right to freedom of religion enshrined in Article 20 is interpreted in the manner which has the effect of encroaching upon religious freedoms of minority religions in Pakistan. As per Article 251 of the constitution, any section of citizens having a distinct language, script or culture shall have the right to preserve and promote the same and subject to law, establish institutions for that purpose.
For all those who insanely desire to blame and defame Pakistan, the most favourite topic is ‘Atrocities against religious minorities in Pakistan’. So many baseless allegations are levied upon Pakistani society including forced conversions of minorities to Islam, sexual assaults on them and their social persecution. The government of Pakistan is also blamed of being in a state of oblivion regarding the maltreatment with the minorities. The matter of fact is that the religious minorities are enjoying all kinds of rights and liberties in Pakistan. People belonging to different religious minorities could be prominently seen serving in almost all walks of life. From judiciary to the law enforcement agencies, from educational institutions to media houses and from government offices to business organisations, religious minorities are everywhere enjoying all equal rights and privileges. Unfortunate are those who always look at the scenario with an eye blind to this positive aspect of Pakistani society.
Minorities in Pakistan have equal rights and protection. Special quotas are allocated for their participations in all walks of life including politics, education, science and technology, army and civil services. Their religious institutions are secured and well maintained. They are free to do their religious practices any time they want. Minor issues that may be actions of individuals are magnified as if Muslims as whole have done against minority members. Everyday dozens of Muslims are killed by unidentified persons in each province but never any finger is pointed towards minority. One wonders why media fails to understand that minority members have also friends and foes, they have partners and competitors, people have grievances against them and enemies of Pakistan are also their enemies who can target them to create unrest and instability in Pakistan. There are instances where their rights have been violated but it is at individual level as in the case of any other Pakistani. Under all these circumstances, it is extremely condemnable that some Western media persons and anti-Pakistan elements are distorting the image of Pakistan for their personal gains. Minorities should put a deaf ear to enemies plot to divide them from rest of the nation.
