Pakistan: Embedded discrimination: ‘We are not minorities, we are nationals of this country’

Participants at a seminar on Sunday demanded the rights of non-Muslims in the country be safeguarded by making amendments to laws that according to them hinder their civil liberties. Speaking at the event organised by a local non-governmental organisation, Society for Rights and Development (SRD), at the Peshawar Press Club, Professor Salamat Akhtar Masih, a history professor from Rawalpindi said, “We do not believe in the two-nation theory. We only want one nation in this country so everyone has equal rights.” Masih stressed the purpose of the creation of Pakistan was to create a common ground for the people of the region, where everyone would live as one nation as was desired by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He said he has been teaching history for 48 years at a government college in Rawalpindi and also authored a book titled ‘Tehreek-e-Pakistan k Gumnam Sepahi’ (The lost soldiers of the Pakistan Movement). “Whatever I have taught students for the past 48 years is incorrect. We are misleading our youth about our history,” Masih insisted. Religion has nothing to do with the state, he said, adding, “We are not minorities. We are nationals of this country. It is our Constitution which creates the divide by labelling non-Muslims as minorities.” In his address, Ijaz Durani, a social worker said Pukhtuns and followers of various other religions have lived together in harmony for centuries but now the land has been overtaken by extremism and militancy. “Pukhtun women can even become the head of a tribe, however, under our Constitution, neither a non-Muslim nor a woman can become the head of state,” said Durani. National Peace Committee for Interfaith Harmony Vice President Khalid Shehzad said, “This is a war being fought for economic interests whereby no religion, cultural values or human beings are safe.” He stressed the Constitution and laws of the state should ensure equal rights for all its citizens regardless of their religion or sect. Various Christian scholars and social workers belonging to various human rights organisations participated in the seminar.