Friday, March 23, 2018
Losing their religion - The number of ex-Muslims in America is rising
Mr Olad was told he would leave college and be turned over the next day to the care of Muslim clerics who would restore his faith. “I was aware of the horrors of these camps,” Mr Olad says. “They operate them in the middle of nowhere, where you cannot escape. They subject you to beatings, starvation and trampling.” He tried to contact the American embassy, but it could not send help because of recent terrorist attacks nearby. Luckily, he also managed to reach a Kenyan atheist group. In the dead of night he sneaked into his mother’s room, stole his passport and was whisked away by taxi to the embassy, which eventually returned him safely to America. He has not spoken to his family since.
Though few have such harrowing stories, hundreds of thousands of American Muslims might recognise something like their own experience in Mr Olad’s tale. As the number of American Muslims has increased by almost 50% in the past decade, so too has the number of ex-Muslims. According to the Pew Research Centre, 23% of Americans raised as Muslims no longer identify with the faith. Most of them are young second-generation immigrants who have come to reject the religion of their parents. Some, however, are older when their crisis of faith arrives, already married to devout Muslim spouses and driving children to the mosque to study the Koran at weekends.
The vast majority, whether young or old, are silent about their faithlessness. One Muslim college student, who came home drunk one evening, was confronted by his father. Not thinking clearly, the son confessed to his father that he was an atheist, whereupon the father revealed that he too had lost his faith many years ago. Yet he still admonished his son for not hiding his secret well enough.
Publicly leaving Islam is difficult because many Muslims live in tight-knit communities. Many apostates are left closeted, afraid to put at risk their relationships with their parents, on whom they may still depend, or with their siblings and their friends. Non-believing Mormons, Hasidic Jews and evangelical Christians find themselves in a similar predicament. Within Somali enclaves in Minneapolis and Pakistani ones in Dallas, renunciation of Islam is tantamount to renunciation of an entire social circle. “The most frustrating part is living knowing that my life has to be guided by the rules I don’t agree with,” says one still deep in the closet.
Apostasy is different from apathy, but that is also growing among Muslims. Among believers aged 55 or older, 53% say they perform all five of the mandatory daily prayers—no easy feat, considering that the first must be done before dawn. Among Muslim millennials, that proportion falls to 33%. Few would be ostracised for missing a prayer, or not fasting during the month of Ramadan—so long as those misdeeds were not made public.
In broad terms, there are two types of ex-Muslims. Those who are from less religious families simply drift away and face fewer repercussions. “It was a progression,” says one such ex-Muslim, who stopped praying at the age of eight after noticing that nothing cataclysmic happened when she missed a prayer one day. Then she starting sneaking meals during Ramadan, before moving on to alcohol and premarital sex. At 18, she was an atheist.
Then there are those in more religious households. They tend to have cleaner breaks, sudden realisations while studying the Koran or the Hadith, the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. Often the verses that trigger this are controversial ones about slavery or gender that family members and imams cannot explain satisfactorily. Coming across the writings of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens sometimes has the same effect. Some chafe at sexism or homophobia. “I remember one Halloween, I wasn’t allowed to go trick-or-treating because I had to clean up after dinner, but all my male cousins and brothers got to go,” says one female ex-Muslim who is not out to her family (nor will ever be, she fears). To cope, some look online, seeking solace in anonymous forums. One, hosted on Reddit, has nearly 30,000 followers. Here ex-Muslims trade stories of families kicking their children out after they confess their disbelief. But they also traffic in lighter-hearted fare, like taking pictures of booze-and-pork meals during Ramadan—enjoyed in the daylight, of course.
Out and proud
Despite all the pressure of family and community, more ex-Muslims seem to be going public. Ex-Muslims of North America (EXMNA), an advocacy organisation, has pushed for those who safely can to publicly declare their renunciations. “The goal is to change things enough so that we no longer need to exist,” says Sarah Haider, EXMNA’s director. The group launched a university tour, entitled “Normalising Dissent”, which has attracted angry critics and required extensive security preparations. Though she must contend with death threats, and has to be quite vigilant about infiltrators to her organisation, Ms Haider persists. “Condemnation is still acknowledgment,” she notes.
While the penalties for apostasy can be high in the West, they are much more severe in the Muslim world. In Pakistan, blasphemy carries a death sentence. In Bangladesh, atheist writers have been hacked to death by machete-wielding vigilantes. An atheist who recently appeared on Egyptian television to debate a former deputy sheikh from Al-Azhar University was dismissed by the host and told that he needed to see a psychiatrist. Mr Olad, who was born in a refugee camp in Kenya, has seen both worlds—he knows ex-Muslims in Kenya and Somalia who were severely beaten when their secrets were discovered. “I feel very grateful to live in a country where I have at least some level of protection,” he says.
Barack Obama gets a traditional nose-rubbing welcome in New Zealand
By Nicole Chavez
During a three-day visit to New Zealand, Obama was given a traditional Maori tribal welcome Friday. He was gifted with a whale tooth pendant and was honored with a hongi -- a greeting in which two people press their noses and foreheads together.
Obama met with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to discuss leadership, climate change and how social media impacts politics, Arden told reporters.
He also held a public speaking event for an audience of about 800 and spent time playing golf with former New Zealand Prime Minister Sir John Key, The New Zealand Herald reported.
He isn't the first high-profile visitor to take part in the tradition. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, have done it in the past.
Barack Obama voices support of female leaders at exclusive NSW Art Gallery dinner
Former US President Barack Obama has shared his thoughts on leadership and voiced his support for female executives at an exclusive event in Sydney overnight.
Mr Obama attended a dinner last night at the Art Gallery of NSW, hosted by the New Zealand United States Council, where he spoke to an audience of around 200 people on topics ranging from leadership to young people and the spread of information.
Mr Obama has been in Sydney on a whirlwind trip that began around 1pm yesterday when he flew into the city on a private jet flanked by a motorcade of vans, SUVs and around a dozen police motorbikes.
While the dinner was an invitation-only event free of the media, social media posts from inside the gallery show the former President looking relaxed in an arm chair in front of the audience.
“When I say that companies need women on boards it’s not for charity - those companies run better: President Barack Obama,” a tweet from Sydney councillor Christine Forster said from the dinner.
“Young people drive change because they’re not vested in the way things have been, they can imagine how things should be. The problem is they don’t have any faith in existing institutions: President Obama,” another post said.
Mr Obama was also seen yesterday visiting the Sydney Opera House yesterday during the two-day whirlwind trip and also met with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Heightened security measures have been put in place again today in preparation for the former President’s departure, with police officers surrounding the InterContinental Hotel in the CBD.
Earlier this week, Mr Obama also spent time in New Zealand, playing a game of golf with former leader John Key and being hosted for a dinner by actor Sam Neill.
He is expected to leave Sydney today to continue his trip, which will see him headed for Tokyo.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/03/24/08/36/barack-obama-art-gallery-nsw-sydney-event
Obamas: Parkland students 'helped awaken the conscience' of US on gun violence
By Betsy Klein
EXCLUSIVE: Here’s the letter @BarackObama and @MichelleObama wrote to the #ParklandShooting survivors. In it, the former president and first lady tell the teens that they’ve “inspired” them, and commend them on “awakening the conscience of our nation.” bit.ly/2DIQARv
Many of the survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and students around the country have channeled their grief into fighting the gun lobby, making impassioned pleas on television, meeting with lawmakers and preparing for a nationwide protest dubbed "March for our Lives," which will take place in Washington this Saturday.
A source familiar with the letter, previously reported by Mic, confirmed its authenticity.
"We wanted to let you know how inspired we have been by the resilience, resolve, and solidarity that you have all shown in the wake of unspeakable tragedy. Not only have you supported and comforted each other, but you've helped awaken the conscience of the nation, and challenged decision-makers to make the safety of our children the country's top priority," the handwritten note said.
The letter continued, "We have no doubt you are going to make an enormous difference in the days and years to come, and we will be there for you."
The Obama presidency saw many tragic mass shootings in the US, including the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, two shootings at Fort Hood, the Tucson shooting that injured then-Rep. Gabby Giffords, the Aurora movie theater shooting, the Washington Navy Yard shooting, a Sikh temple shooting in Wisconsin, the Charleston church shooting and the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
One day after the Parkland attack, the former President called for "common-sense gun safety laws" in a tweet.
The former President and first lady have previously expressed praise for the Parkland students.
He tweeted later last month, "Young people have helped lead all our great movements. How inspiring to see it again in so many smart, fearless students standing up for their right to be safe; marching and organizing to remake the world as it should be. We've been waiting for you. And we've got your backs."
And the former first lady wrote, "I'm in total awe of the extraordinary students in Florida. Like every movement for progress in our history, gun reform will take unyielding courage and endurance. But @barackobama and I believe in you, we're proud of you, and we're behind you every step of the way."
Balochistan: Family of abducted Baloch student demand for his safe release
Hundreds of people joined the family of an abducted Baloch student in a protest outside Quetta Press Club to demand his immediate and safe release.
According to details the family of Nasir Baloch son of late Ghaffar Langov Baloch, the only brother of five sisters, have organised a peaceful protest demonstration outside Quetta Press Club for his safe release on 15 March 2018.
Mahrang Baloch a sister of Nasir told media sources at the Press Club that her brother is a student of Science College Quetta. ‘He has been abducted three months ago but we have no information about his wellbeing and whereabouts since his abduction.’
She said at the time of his abduction the FC (Frontier Corps) official told the family members that they were taking him for two hours to ask him few questions.
She said, ‘I have knocked all the doors and went from pillar to post in search of my brother but nobody is helping me.’
She said she was the first person to appear before the open hearing sessions of the Chief Minister Quddus Bezinjo to request him about the release of her brother but the CM has also taken no action to recover her brother.
She requested the media and other institutions to become her voice at the corridors of power and play their role for her brother’s safe release.
‘If there are any allegations against my brother, he should be presented to a court according to the constitution of the state,’ she added.
Another sister of Nasir Baloch held a placard which read, ‘I Lost My Father Gaffar Langov but I don’t want to lose my only Brother Nasir Baloch. Please save him.’
Mahrang Baloch said because of her brother disappearance and absence from home her entire family was going through a lot of trauma and suffering. ‘Our father was abducted twice, subjected to brutal torture and later killed in custody. We fear that our brother might suffer the same fate as our father.’
At the end of her press conference, she said, ‘We appeal the government and judiciary to play their role in the recovery of our brother.’
http://balochwarna.com/2018/03/18/balochistan-family-of-abducted-baloch-student-demand-for-his-safe-release/
OP-ED - Restoring #Pashtun dignity in #Pakistan
Dr Saira Bano Orakzai
The Pashtun Tahafuz movement is asking for the implementation and extension of Article 14 of the constitution to restore dignity of Pashtuns in the conflict zones.
After his death in 1960, the Times of London described Faqir of Ipi from the frontier tribal areas as a ‘doughty and honourable opponent’. Honour and Dignity are central to Pashtun identity and culture. The Pashtun youth movement that surfaced as a result of multiple demand to end conflict in the Pashtun areas of Pakistan made restoration of dignity of Pashtuns living in Pakistan as its core demand. In his statements to the state and people of Pakistan, PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen has repeatedly asked for ‘the right to life with respect and dignity’. All other demands from the state of Pakistan, including that of peace, development, withdrawal of the security forces, and reconstruction are central to the conflict resolution process, yet the way vulnerable Pashtuns have been treated in the conflict zones explains why it hurts when dignity is violated. Accountability of dignity violators is central to rebuild relationships and to reconcile in this conflict.
Dignity, the feeling of inherent value and worth, is a birthright of all human and is a conflict prevention method at present and conflict resolution approach. The Constitution of 1973 guarantees dignity of all Pakistanis. Article 14 ensures the ‘Inviolability of dignity of man, etc. (1) the dignity of man and, subject to law, the privacy of home, shall be inviolable. (2) No person shall be subjected to torture for the purpose of extracting evidence’. Similarly, the Universal declaration of Human Rights 1948 equally ensures inherent dignity of all human beings in its preamble.
Restoring dignity is the first step towards peace process in the Pashtun territory and avoiding further escalation of conflict and violence. Pashtuns have been subjected to many dignity violating incidents since the establishment of Pakistan in 1947, both at the macro and micro level. Using a pre-colonial terminology of ‘Tribal’, with a historical baggage of ‘primitiveness’ and ‘savagery’ attached to it, is used in all the constitutions of Pakistan. The constitutions of 1973 reinforced both the ‘tribal’ and ‘federally administered’ terms giving not only a sense of lack of ‘progress’ and modernization’ in the areas and among the people , but also a spatial indicator and pejorative label to depict the inability to govern itself. The strong ethno-centric sense of the Tribal connotation emphasize both an emotional /psychological marginalisation and a spatial disconnect from Pakistan. The Tribal areas is neither a correct regional term nor had anything to do with the strategically important mountainous regions and the people living in it. However, it is not too late to influence a change in terminological use. This macro level indignity has been covered up using the self-defeating status of ‘semi-autonomous’ given to the tribal areas, however, it’s the prolong micro level indignities that caused the rise of Pashtun youth against these actions by the state with no foreseen end to it.
Pakistan is playing a leading role in the peacekeeping operations around the world. One of the central concepts in peacekeeping is to treat the people in conflict zone with dignity and respect and not to indulge in anything that is a cause of indignity and thus a harbinger of conflict and violence
The stereotyping of the Pashtuns living in this region, the attitude meted against them by the security forces and by the provinces of Pakistan emerges from this term of tribal as being uncivilized and thus Pakistan’s security forces are on a civilising mission in FATA, taking over the ‘white’s man burden’ to end conflict through a misguided concept of peace. In this regard, the parliament and the national political parties have a crucial role to understand the nature of demands made by the PTM and youth of Pashtuns Honouring others dignity and sacrifices needs an effort to learn and to understand. Since 9/11, Pashtuns of the tribal areas and the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province have supported and collaborated with all effort of the government of Pakistan to wipe out terrorist and extremist from the region. However, numerous military operations and peace agreements failed to fully secure the areas from the terrorist and restore normalcy in the area. The Taliban, extremist, and security forces killed , arrested and displaced thousands of Pashtuns , however the Pashtun movement surfaced primarily to demand an end to the humiliation practices by the security forces.
These dignity violating acts include arbitrary and regular checking at the check post, humiliation of old , young and women by the security forces at the check post especially giving shameful punishments to white bearded men and not taking in to account a strong sense of honour and respect of old people in the culture of Pashtuns, the indignity of displacement especially problems faced by women due to the cultural code of purdah in the society, the issuance of a separate ‘watan card’ for the tribal people, and queues for food and other daily needs for the displaced and returnees among other issues.
The Pashtun Tahafuz movement is asking for the implementation and extension of Article 14 of the constitution to restore dignity of Pashtuns in the conflict zones. This demand is also in line with the agreement signed between the tribal council of elders and Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the first Governor General of Pakistan, in 1948 under which tribes agreed to join the federation of Pakistan and rendered full support to this country. The parliament of Pakistan, being representative of its people and federating units, and also a body to raise voice for the rights of all marginalised communities has the responsibility to table and pass a resolution by both the houses of parliament calling for restoration of dignity of the Pashtuns, and to achieve peace with dignity in the conflict zones. It is thus incumbent upon the Parliament to make this crucial step to give voice to the constitutional demands made by the PTM and bring normalcy to the Pashtun tribal region.
The need has never been so urgent for the people in leadership position to lead with dignity and to be aware of the volatility of experiencing an assault of self-worth of individuals in conflict zones. Pakistani is playing a leading role in the peacekeeping operations around the world. One of the central concept in peacekeeping is to treat the people in conflict zone with dignity and respect and not to indulge in anything that is a cause of indignity and thus harbinger of conflict and violence. Pakistan’s security forces need to apply this fundamental concept to its own people too in order to facilitate a reconciliation and healing process and to honour Pashtun dignity as a way to begin a new phase of peace in the Pakistan.
#Pakistan - Election as opp leader victory for Benazir Bhutto: Sherry
Senator Rehman was notified as leader of the opposition by Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani on Thursday almost a week after Pakistan People’s Party chief Bilawal Bhutto nominated her for the slot. She is first woman to lead the opposition in the Senate.
Benazir Bhutto was the first woman prime minister and also the first woman opposition leader in the National Assembly.
The PPP had earlier elected Krishna Kumari Kohli as the first Dalit senator. The PPP had also elected Bilawal Bhutto’s mother Benazir Bhutto as the first Muslim prime minister in 1988. She served another term from 1993-1996. Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in 2007. Speaking to The Nation after her election, Sherry Rehman said: “It is a victory for Benazir Bhutto’s vision, which sought to empower women across the board.”
She added: “Thank you to my party leadership, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Asif Ali Zardari and opposition parties that reposed confidence in me. Thank you to colleagues from Fata [Federally-Administrated Tribal Areas] and Balochistan, as well as the ANP [Awami National Party] and the BNP-M [Balochistan National Party–Mengal] who have supported all the way. I look forward to working with all opposition.”
Senator Rehman replaced senior party leader Aitzaz Ahsan, who recently retired from the senate.
She was also Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting from 2008-2009 in the PPP government. Rehman, the Vice President of the PPP, has been a Member of the Senate since 2015. Previously, she had been Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States from 2011 to 2013. Born in Karachi, Senator Rehman received her BA from Smith College and her MA in art history from the University of Sussex. In 1988, she joined the Herald as its editor and remained with the magazine until 1999. In 2002, she was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan.
She was re-elected in 2008, and became a member of the Federal Cabinet under Prime Minister Gilani as the Minister for Information.
She resigned from the cabinet in 2009 and went on to serve as the Chair of the Pakistan Red Crescent and founded the non-partisan think tank, Jinnah Institute.
In November 2011, she was appointed as the ambassador to the United States and remained until April 2013.
In 2015, she was elected to the Senate.
She was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan for the first time as a candidate for PPP on reserved seat for women in general election, 2002, where she remained until 2007.
Rehman was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate for PPP on the reserved seat for women from Sindh in Pakistani general election, 2008. During her second tenure as Member of the National Assembly, she authored several legislations, which were tabled in the National Assembly.
In March 2008, she was inducted into the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and was appointed as the Minister for Information and Broadcasting.
She was given the additional ministerial portfolio of health in April 2008, and women development and culture in May 2008. She remained Minister for Culture until August 2008.
In November 2008, she relinquished portfolios of Health and Women Development. Senator Rehman resigned her post as information minister in March 2009 in protest over government attempt to put restrictions on the press freedom.
In November 2011, she was named Pakistan's Ambassador to United States following the resignation of Hussain Haqqani. In June 2015, she was elected to the Senate of Pakistan for the first time as a candidate of the PPP on general seat from Sindh and replaced Abdul Latif Ansari.
Later on Thursday, PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari congratulated Sherry Rehman.
In his message, the PPP chairman said that election of Sherry Rehman was in line with PPP’s inherited policy of empowerment of women and providing them equal opportunities to play their role in every sphere of life.
Bilawal said that he was confident Sherry Rehman would perform her best in leading the Opposition in the Upper House.
Meanwhile, PPP leader Farhatullah Babar said there was need for a paradigm shift in trade policy to promote regional trade and this calls for acting like a normal trading partner and not use trade as an instrument of politics. Addressing a national conference on open trade organised by the Policy Research Institute of Market Economy here Thursday, he said trade with two countries in the region namely Afghanistan and India had been trumped by politics.
“Trade with Afghanistan had dwindled from over three billion dollars a year to less than one billion dollars and today more than 80 per cent of heavy containers bound for Afghanistan were shipped through Chahbahar,” Babar said.
He said that in February 2012 the PPP government switched from positive to negative list of tradable items with India with about 1,200 items on the negative list. The Commerce Ministry was tasked to negotiate phasing out the negative list by December 2012.
A roadmap was agreed upon between India and Pakistan in September 2012 for bilateral trade promotion, he said and called for implementing the roadmap.
Babar said that mechanisms existed in the World Trade Organisation to protect national businesses through countervailing laws, anti-dumping laws and other duties.
“Turkey had already imposed heavy duties on Pakistan under it,” he said.
In March 2014, a cabinet meeting to approve the Most-Favoured Nation status to India was called off at the last minute.
تحریک ِ پاکستان کےغیرمسلم ہیروکون تھے
تحریک ِ پاکستان کے غیرمسلم ہیروکون تھے ؟
آج یومِ قراردادِ پاکستان ہے۔23مارچ 1940ء کو قائداعظم محمد علی جناح کی قیادت میں آل انڈیا مسلم لیگ نے مسلمانوں کی اکثریت پر مشتمل ایک الگ وطن کا مطالبہ کیا تھا۔بہت سے لوگوں کا خیال ہے کہ تحریکِ پاکستان صرف اور صرف مسلمانوں کی تحریک تھی جس کے نتیجے میں پاکستان معرضِ وجود میں آیالیکن تاریخ بتاتی ہے کہ بہت سی غیرمسلم شخصیات نے بھی تحریکِ آزادی میں قائداعظم اور مسلمانوں کا ساتھ دیا۔
تحریک ِ پاکستان کے غیرمسلم ہیروکون تھے ؟
جوگندراناتھ ماندل ۔۔۔ پاکستان کے پہلے وزیرِ قانون
23مارچ 1940ء کو لاہور کے منٹو پارک میں قائداعظم محمد علی جناح کی صدارت میں ہونے والے اجلاس میں جب مسلمانوں کے لیے ایک الگ وطن کے حصول کی قرارداد منظور کی گئی تو اس موقع پر غیرمسلم سیاستدان ایس پی سنگھا، ایف آئی چوہدری اور آر اے گومسندبھی موجود تھے۔اسی طرح دیوان بہادر ستیہ پرکاش سنگھا، راجکماری امریت، چندولال، سی ای گبن، الفرڈپرشاد، ایف ای چوہدری اور ایس ایس البرٹ جیسے غیرمسلم سیاسی کارکن بھی الگ وطن کے حصول کے لیے مسلمانوں کے شانہ بہ شانہ تھے۔
تحریک ِ پاکستان کے غیرمسلم ہیروکون تھے ؟
جسٹس کارنیلیس ۔۔۔ پاکستان کے پہلے عیسائی چیف جسٹس ۔۔ فائل فوٹو
قائداعظم کے بااعتماد ساتھیوں میں جوگندراناتھ ماندل بھی تھےجوقیامِ پاکستان کے بعد مملکت ِ خداداد کے پہلے وزیرقانون بنے۔اسی طرح متحدہ پنجاب کی اسمبلی کے اسپیکرایس پی سنگھا نے بھی پاکستان کے حق میں ووٹ دے کر فیصلہ کن کردارادا کیا۔ان کے علاہ سروکٹر ٹرنرکانام بھی تحریکِ پاکستان کے اہم رہنمائوں کی فہرست میں شامل ہے۔ سروکٹرپاکستان کے پہلے فنانس سیکرٹری مقرر ہوئے اور ایف بی آر کے چیئرمین بھی رہے۔بہت کم لوگ جانتے ہیں کہ پاکستان کے پہلے کرنسی نوٹ پروی اے سی ٹرنر ہی کے دستخط تھے۔
سروکٹر کی طرح ایک اور عیسائی رہنماایلون کارنیلیس بھی تحریکِ پاکستان میں پیش پیش تھے۔وہ پاکستان بننے کے بعد وزیرقانون جوگندرا ناتھ ماندل کے سیکرٹری مقرر ہوئے بعدازاں قائداعظم نے انہیں لاہور ہائی کورٹ کا چیف جسٹس بنادیا۔ انہیں پاکستان کے پہلے غیرمسلم چیف جسٹس ہونے کا اعزاز بھی حاصل ہے۔
تحریک ِ پاکستان کے غیرمسلم ہیروکون تھے؟
جگن ناتھ آزاد ۔۔۔ پاکستان کا پہلا قومی ترانہ لکھنے والے شاعر
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| سرظفراللہ خان |
یہ بات بھی بہت کم لوگوں کے علم میں ہے کہ قرارداد ِپاکستان سرظفراللہ خان نے تحریر کی تھی ۔ان کا تعلق بھی ااقلیتی احمدی کمیونٹی سے تھا۔پاکستان کا پہلا ترانہ بھی قائداعظم کی خواہش پر ایک غیرمسلم شاعر جگن ناتھ آزاد نے لکھا تھااور یہی ترانہ 14اگست 1947ء کو ریڈیوپاکستان سے نشر بھی ہوا تھا۔
اسی طرح پارسی کمیونٹی سے تعلق رکھنے والے جمشید نسروانجی مہتا کراچی کے پہلے میئر تھے۔انہیںجدیدکراچی کا معمار بھی کہا جاتا ہے۔کراچی کا معروف جمشیدروڈ انہی کے نام سے منسوب ہے۔پارسی کمیونٹی کو کراچی کی معمار برادری تصور کیا جاتا ہے۔ لیڈی ڈیفرن اسپتال، اسپنسر آئی اسپتان، ماما پارسی اسکول، این ای ڈی یونیورسٹی اور پارسی ہائی اسکول جیسےباوقار ادارےکراچی کے لیے پارسی کمیونٹی کی خدمات کا منہ بولتا ثبوت ہیں۔
https://jang.com.pk/news/467733
#Pakistan - #PPP - Bilawal Bhutto felicitates nation on 78th anniversary of Pakistan Day
In his message on the eve of Pakistan Resolution Day, the PPP Chairman said that his Party was true torchbearer of the ideology of Pakistan. “PPP continues the struggle for a peaceful, prosperous and progressive Pakistan as envisioned by our founder Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah,” he added.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that founder Chairman of PPP Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto fought and eventually laid down their lives in their struggle for achieving the goals, missions and dreams of the founding fathers.
He said that Pakistan belongs to every citizen hence every individual has a responsibility to play his/her role to make an egalitarian and democratic country.
PPP Chairman pledged that his Party will continue its struggle as per the vision of founders of the country and the party with same vigor and zeal.
https://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/2018/03/22/bilawal-bhutto-zardari-felicitates-nation-on-78th-anniversary-of-pakistan-day/