Religious Bigotry

Fawad Chaudhry, one of the PPP political leaders has demanded that people nominated by Taliban for negotiations should be arrested and investigated for their links with terrorists...

Christian struggle in Pakistan

(ISLAMABAD) - We are building not so much a multi racial society or a multi cultural society, we are building separate societies which really don’t have much to do with other.

Equipped with just enough religion to hate those with another faith but not enough to love their co-religionists – Pakistanis have mostly turned their backs on religious atrocities. Religion is not to be, and was never, forced upon an individual against their own will. Unfortunately Pakistan is facing terrorism and some Islamic fundamentalists want to impose their rigid rituals and rights and Pakistani government is in a state of confusion over whether to face them or to face terrorism. In this turmoil, government is again wasting time to negotiate with them, knowing that this process will bring no solid result.

Taliban peacekeeping troops and the government of Pakistan's negotiators are meeting to devise a strategy for formally kick-starting a much-awaited dialogue process.

The Taliban had nominated five prominent figures – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf - PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Jamiat Ullma-e-Islam- JUI-S chief Maulana Sami ul Haq, Jamaat-e-Islamai JI leader Prof. Mohammad Ibrahim, JUI-F politician Mufti Kifayat ullah and Lal Masjid prayer leader Maulana Abdul Aziz to act as intermediaries between them and the government’s negotiating team. But JUI and PTI – the two avid supporters of peace talks, wished the proposed dialogue luck and excused themselves from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s intermediary committee. And now Taliban will be nominate Insar Abbasi and Oriay Maqbool Jan in the squad.

Fawad Chaudhry, one of the PPP political leaders has demanded that people nominated by Taliban for negotiations should be arrested and investigated for their links with terrorists. I support his stance because once these people are living in the country and if they are representing the militant groups and will negotiate on their behalf, it means that they are one of them either in spirit or practice.

Asian Study Group, in collaboration with Kuch Khass, arranged a multimedia presentation on Religious Tolerance & Islam. They believe that many mistakenly believe that Islam does not tolerate the existence of other religions. Islam recognizes that there are a plurality of religions on this earth, and gives the right to individuals to choose the path which they believe to be true. They gave the examples from the life of their Prophet (PBUH) epitomize the verse of the Quran which promotes religious tolerance and sets the guideline for Muslims’ interaction with people of other faiths.

I am not a religious scholar but I know about my faith and very well aware of it as well. I wanted them to ask, which Sharia you wanted to impose, either the Taliban design or what about the Sharia which is already imposed in the constitution of the Pakistan or both?

I feel it is already scripted and its net shell is; both groups will sit and negotiate and design some restrictions to be imposed on margined position in the society like women and religious minorities. It may demand to tighten the rope and neck of the minorities like making the death penalty compulsory for blasphemy.

Earlier, Pakistan faced a looming deadline to comply with a court ruling to amend the country’s penal code to make the death penalty the only lawful punishment for blasphemy or to appeal the order. It may restrict religious freedom or freedom of expression. It is already practice that religious minorities are not leading healthy life in this arena. I am afraid that Pakistani Christians are already living a miserable life and do not have the right to be heard and if the government shoots the bullet,putting it on Taliban shoulders, what will be Christian future in the country be?

About Shamim Masih

"I am Christian rights activist and freelancer Pakistani journalist specializing in writing about Christians rights for the different papers in the world. My aim is to create a peaceful environment in the society and to help eliminate Christian persecution through my writing as I bring the plight of these brave people under the spotlight of the whole world."

Shamim Masih was born in Sheikhopura's village and raised in Gujranwala, a city in Pakistan's Punjab province. He earned his Bachelors Degree from the University of the Punjab, Lahore majoring in English, Economics and Statistics; he also received a Masters Degree in Business Administration.

As a freelance writer and author, Shamim has written for different papers in the world; his expertise is in writing articles highlighting different social issues. He has served as freelance chief reporter and column writer in “Minority Times” in Islamabad, and a number of Shamim's articles have been published in local papers as well.

You can write to Shamim at this address: shamimpakistan@gmail.com