Pakistan: Christmas Day and Rights
of Minorities by Sajjad Shaukat (JR109SS11)
Besides Quaid-e-Azam Day, every
year, December 25 is also celebrated as the Charismas Day across Pakistan.
On this very Day, members of the Christian community attend
special services at illuminated churches where prayers are offered for the
progress and prosperity of Pakistan. Residential colonies and churches are
decorated with twinkling lights and stars. On the occasion, Pakistanis also
say, “Happy Christmas” to the Christians and also participate in their
celebrations.
On the Christmas eve, in December 2016, ahead of Christmas
Day, former Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique had inaugurated a
special Christmas Train which travelled across the country spreading Christmas
cheer. The Xmas Peace Train that left Peshawar on Dec 22 reached Karachi on Dec
31. Ex- Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had ordered that there to be zero
loadshedding on the Charismas Day in the country. Former President Mamnoon
Hussain and P.M Nawaz also extended their heartiest felicitations on the
occasion and wished Christians in Pakistan and all over the world a merry
Christmas.
They said: “The government is striving to promote interfaith
harmony and discourage religious discrimination.”
The government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, which is
also promoting interfaith harmony, will also give a positive message to the
Christians on this Day.
It is notable that in December 2017, the then Punjab
Minister of Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu had stated:
“Minorities in Pakistan have complete equality and liberty to enjoy basic
rights at par with other citizens and perform their religious obligations in a
free environment.”
Every year, the Punjab government provided a special grant
for religious festivals like Christmas, Holi/Devali etc. In the government
jobs, 5% quota had been allocated for minority, under which more than 5
thousand youth had been given jobs in public institutions.
As regards the state of minorities in Pakistan, a delegation
of U.S Commission on International Religious Freedom visited the country in May
2017 and called on the then Provincial Minister for Human Rights and Minority
Affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu in Lahore. The delegation led by Rev. Thomas J.
Reece was comprised of Mr. Denial Mark, Vice Chairman U.S Commission on
International Religious Freedom and Senior Policy Analyst to the Commission MS
Sehar Chaudhary. Provincial Minister Tahir Khalil Sandhu briefed the members of
the delegations in details about the steps, policies and laws made by the
Punjab government for the welfare and safeguard of minorities’ rights in the
province. The delegation which also met the ex- Chief Minister of Punjab
Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had shown satisfaction on these measures, including
Minority Advisory Council which was already working for the rights of the
minorities in Punjab.
Similarly, in February 2018, again, the former
Provincial Minister for HR&MA Khalil Tahir Sandhu had said that the Punjab
government has ensured protection of minorities without any discrimination
across the province and all the basic facilities have been provided to
minorities.
It is of particular attention that Quaid-e-Azam
Muhammad Ali Jinnah-the founder of Pakistan, who was
against every sort of extremism, had favoured a moderate Pakistan where other
religious communities and minorities would also live without any restriction,
along with the Muslims.
It may be recalled that August 11 was official declared
National Minorities Day by the former government in 2009 in line with the
historic speech of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah at the Constituent Assembly
on August 11, 1947. In his speech, Quaid-e-Azam said, “You are free; you are
free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other
place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or
caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the state…We are
starting in the days where there is no discrimination, no distinction between
one community and another, no discrimination between ones caste or creed and
another. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all
citizens, and equal citizens of one state.”
Hence, in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam, the
Constitution of 1973 protects the real rights and interest of minorities, living
in Pakistan.
On the other side, India which claims an arch secular state
has surprised the world because of continued attacks on other minority groups, especially
Christians, Muslims and Sikhs—and events of forced conversion of Christians and
Muslims into Hindus.
Unlike India, where religious minorities are being targeted
by the Hindu fundamentalist outfits like the ruling party BJP, RSS, Shiv Sena
etc., all the minorities such as Christians, Ahmadis, Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis and
Buddhists enjoy fundamental rights in Pakistan, including all other rights of
citizenry in Pakistan.
It is noteworthy that the founder of the country had
strongly supported the idea of peace in the world as well as with other
countries. In this connection on August 15, 1947 Quaid-e-Azam stated, “Our
object should be peace within, and peace without. We want to live peacefully
and maintain cordial friendly relations with our immediate neighbours and with
the world at large.”
Regarding the status of women, Mohammad Ali Jinnah pointed
out on March 25, 1940 at Islamia College for women, “No nation can rise to the
height of glory unless your women are side by side with you; we are victims of
evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within
the four walls of the houses as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for
the deplorable condition in which our women have to live.”
Nonetheless, according to the vision of Quaid-e-Azam, now,
Pakistani women, including those of other religious communities are not only
working in various public and private sectors, but also in the armed forces of
the country.
It is worth-mentioning that Pakistan which came into existence
on the basis of Islamic principles to provide respect and protection to all the
segments of society is giving full safety to all the minorities, as mentioned
in the Constitution. Besides other minority groups, particularly Christians are
not only serving in the armed forces, but are also working in other
departments. Without any discrimination by the Muslims, they also run their own
business and are working in private sectors.
Undoubtedly, we can conclude that while commemorating the
Quaid-e-Azam Day, December 25 is also celebrated as the Charismas Day across
Pakistan.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author
of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous
Shift in International Relations
