Minority rights Archive
PPP Human Rights Cell Condemns the demolition of Ahmadi worship places: PPP Human Rights Cell asks the Chief Justice to take Suo Moto notice for violation of Article 20 of the Constitution by law enforcement agencies in the Punjab. The PPP Human Rights Cell has expressed its concern on the
Bravery has no place where it can avail nothing – by Syed Salman: Though I wrote this blog last year when daring Salmaan Taseer was assassinated, hoping his death would not be just another to increase tally, but unfortunately things didn’t move an inch towards improvement, rather further deteriorated; Shahbaz Bhatti was
Could anyone hear my screams?: (On a man accused of blasphemy burnt alive by a mob in Bhawalpur today and it hardly got any news coverage in the mainstream media. It is our own indifference that kills our conscience more than the act of
LUBP condemns attack on Saleem Khursheed Khokar’s house: Related : Minority MPA asks for equal rights and separate curricula Angry MPA: If you block ‘Jesus Christ’ how will we text over Christmas? Bilawal Zardari takes notice of threats to Sindh minorities MPAs We strongly condemn attack on Saleem
Secularism: A concept most misunderstood! – by Dur-e-Aden: It is almost a sin to mention the word secularism in Pakistan. Suddenly you are bombarded with labels of being pro-western, anti-Islam, ashamed of your values, threat to identity of the nation, as a result of which you are
Sunni Tehreek harasses a peaceful rally against forced conversions: About a dozen people have been mildly injured and three have been booked under blasphemy laws for staging a rally against forced conversions of Hindu girls in Hyderabad, Sindh today. According to local sources, this peaceful rally was organized
My Vanishing Karachi -by Chander Parkash: Karachi, the first Capital of Pakistan and its financial hub, is a leading Industrial centre and great Seaport. Karachi accounts for a lion’s share in the GDP and generates 65% of Pakistan’s total revenue. According to legend, Karachi was
Justice for Qudoos: On 30 March 2012 a well-known and much loved Ahmadi Muslim, Mr Master Abdul Qudoos Ahmad (43), died after succumbing to injuries inflicted during brutal torture by local police in Rabwah, Pakistan. He was a well known government school
Voice of a dying tribe – by Chander Parkash: When our country (Pakistan) is devastated by sectarian genocide & targeted persecution, rural areas of sufistic Sindh has maintained its’ shining example of religious tolerance & pluralism in general. The majority of the country’s Hindus reside here & they
Pakistan’s Shia Muslims and other persecuted groups must fight the minority self-image: Editor’s note: The following is an unusual post because it is based on a facebook conversation between three persons. However, the topic under discussion and the debate itself may not only provide some useful food for thought on an
We welcome PPP Chairman Bilawal BZ’s statement on Shia Muslims and minorities of Pakistan: We welcome PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s statement and await actual steps towards safety of Shia Muslims and other persecuted and target killed communities of Pakistan: Sindh Minorities Minister Dr Mohan Lal calls on Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Ahmadis are….. – by Dur-e-Aden: Oh calm the heck down!!!! I am not using the M word, you know, the same word that can be used by killers, murderers, liars, cheaters, and by every type of “ghairatmand” but Ahmadis (because all the “Real Muslims” agreed
A plea of those who are less equal than others – by Suleman Akhtar: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” – George Orwell (Animal Farm) The phrase is from George Orwell’s allegorical novella ‘Animal Farm’. A group of animals establishes a commune to safeguard the rights of
The exploiters and the faithful -by Zeeba Hashmi: This is about the illusions we create about our shaky existence in a world that demands conformity to homogeneous institution we know as religion. With variation in human perceptions, to consider somebody’s lie as an absolute truth and legislate
Editorial – The Express Tribune: An endangered minority: Given the scope of problems facing the people of Balochistan, from a security establishment that abducts at will anyone it considers a threat to chronic underdevelopment, the plight of the Hindu community in the province has not been given
Pakistani Christians face alienation, discrimination this Christmas: ISLAMABAD – In one of Pakistan’s poorest neighborhoods Christmas lights are going up while artists paint holiday scenes on concrete walls. The decorations do little to mask the trash and sewage that litter the ground. “Life is tough here,” complains
Can non-Muslims be made friends? – by Dr. Khalid Zaheer: 1) Introduction The tension between Muslims and non-Muslims, in particular Jews and Christians, as a result of the events of September 11, 2001 and beyond has made the world of ours far more intolerant and insecure than it was
In TN village without Muslims, Hindus observe Muharram: We are pleased to post this news report, published in The Times of India, which provides a unique insight into how the Hindus observe Muharram as a mark of respect with a message of religious harmony in the remote
Minority report -by Sana Bucha: Blood, meat and hides marked the first day of Eid-ul-Azha in Pakistan. While most Muslims celebrated their holy festival by sacrificing animals, some decided to achieve new levels of faith by targeting Hindus in Shikarpur. Three doctors were shot
Church report condemns Pakistan’s intolerance toward Non-Muslims: A 12-year-old Christian girl’s ordeal sheds further light on the plight of religious minorities. LAHORE, Pakistan — Human-rights activists in Pakistan and outside are aghast over the plight of a 12-year-old Christian girl who escaped the clutches of her
Horrors of a PML-N run Punjab – by Saad Mansoor: This morning I woke up to find the news of masked men entering a school in Rawalpindi and thrashing students and teachers for dressing inappropriately. The absence of the news from electronic media evidences the lack of freedom and
Sandesh: How to publish a Hindu newspaper in Pakistan: Pakistan’s One Man Hindu Newspaper: The Message Is Peace A rural bootblack with an antiquated PC spreads the good word. Print lives. Source: Take Part On your next visit to southern Pakistan, look up Harji Lal. Lal is a
Minorities, particularly Hindus, increasingly at risk in Balochistan: HRCP: Editor’s note: LUBP stands with its fellow Pakistani Hindus in these troubling times. While more is being written about Balochistan, most urban writers wilfully obfuscate the role of the primary agency that is calling the shots in Balochistan. Hint,
Left homeless ‘just on a day’s notice’: Homes of around 800 Christians living in slum situated along Rohi Nullah demolished by Nishtar Town TMA; Model Town AC says operation was carried out after residents ignored notice to vacate land. LAHORE – Over 800 poor Christians from
A tale of two murders: Searching for equal justice -By Kashif N Chaudhry: It is the responsibility of a country’s judiciary to provide “equal justice under law” to every single citizen of the state without difference. Without an independent and honest judiciary, all the rights guaranteed to citizens under the Constitution of
On being Pakistani -by Morial Shah: With 14th of August around the corner, festive fever is on the rise. Civic organizations, student groups, and social, electronic and print media are joining the swelling ranks of celebratory brigades. And that’s where some of the problems with
Minority rights, equality assured after devolution: President Zardari: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the government stands committed to ensure equal rights for minorities as enshrined in the Constitution and the UN Declaration of Human Rights. In a message on Minorities Day, the President said the
August 11th: Minorities Day: Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s 11th August Speech is one of the most famous speeches made by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founding father of Pakistan and known as Quaid-e-Azam (Great Leader). Today there is hardly a more contentious issue in Pakistan than
Christians and Sharia Law – by Agnes Massey: I feel a great passion for our voiceless Christian Community and always raise my voice boldly. JUI-F lawmaker Mrs. Asia Nasir, a Christian MNA from Balochistan visited Canada who was being sponsored by CCA (NGO). During the session of
Pakistani Hindus’ ashes brought to India to be scattered in Ganges: By Mark Magnier They sat in the dark for decades, waiting on the shelves of an abandoned library, the laughter and tears that once defined their lives all but forgotten. Dictatorships rose and fell. India and Pakistan detonated atomic
EU Council conclusions on Pakistan: Summary: 18 July 2011, Brussels – Council of the European Union 3106th FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting conclusions on Pakistan The Council adopted the following conclusions: 1. The EU reaffirms its commitment to building a strong long-term partnership with Pakistan,
No honeymoon period: Muslim girl in danger after marrying Christian: GUJRANWALA: A local teacher has approached police officials, after she began receiving death threats for marrying outside the faith. According to police officials, Khokhar Ki resident Majeeda Bibi married a colleague Bashir Masih last year without informing her family.
The persecution of Sikhs and Hindus in Pakistan is unaccaptable!: The following two incidents should be a source of shame to all Pakistanis. The first instance involves our dear Sikh Pakistani brothers and sisters and this is how Express Tribune reported it: “The Sikh community in Lahore have been
Pakistan, a place where non-Muslims also live: By Anthony Permal A lot has been written about the plight of minorities in Pakistan – some by minorities themselves but mostly by the majority. In most such reports, analyses and blogs, the focus has been on the aggressive
Punjab government fails to respect quota for minorities: As per news report published in Asia News, the Punjab government has ignored the rule that reserves 5% of federal government and provincial governments jobs to minorities, in District Coordination Officer recruitment (DCO) in Khanewal. “The government had announced
Insecure minorities: Threatened at home, jailed abroad: By Abdul Manan BANGKOK: Tahir Mehmood Adil, an Ahmadi from Sialkot, was kidnapped in 2009 by militants, held captive for 36 days and threatened with beheading. His cousin, Sajjad, negotiated successfully for his release. A few days later, however,
Punjab: Christian families flee false accusation of blasphemy: The students of a madrassa try to force a child to convert. A relative is attacked for defending him, and accused of blasphemy. A priest: “This is a common practice in the region. Many cases of forced conversions are
Unreported forced conversions: Hindus “Rights movement” launches a campaign to seek justice and to limit violence and harassment by landlords. The court in Rawalpindi exonerates three Christians of blasphemy, now there are fears of retaliation by religious fundamentalists. Pakistani Hindu girls are
Are they free to go to their temples? -by Saria Benazir: Pakistan was envisioned as a progressive, democratic and tolerant society, which, while retaining a Muslim majority, would give equal rights to its non-Muslim citizens. Without calling it a secular state, Jinnah and his modernist Muslim colleagues believed that Pakistan
Mainstream media and talk shows ignore minorities: A very good and encouraging news indeed that minister of minorities Kamran Michael has been reinstated as the Finance Minister in the Punjab Cabinet and, now, he will address the budget speech in the Punjab Assembly house on Friday,