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In the neighboring country Pakistan, tall claims are made every day regarding the rights, security and dignity of minority communities, especially the Hindu minority, but the ground reality is far away from these government claims and is extremely painful. Recently, a controversial statement made by Pakistan’s influential politician, former President and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari regarding Hindus has sparked heated debate in political circles, human rights forums and international media. Zardari, in his statement, had reportedly said that Hindus should be ‘tolerated’ in Pakistan, drawing sharp reactions from political analysts and commentators across the world. Experts say that in a country where the majority community and common citizens of various Muslim sects are not getting basic justice, food, clothing, house and security of life, talking about ‘tolerating’ minorities is a crude joke and a pretense to hide one’s failure.
Atrocities against Muslims and poor state of justice
If we take a close look at the internal situation of Pakistan, it is clearly visible that not only the Hindus or other non-Muslim minorities, but also the common Muslims of the majority society have been struggling for years for basic human rights, rule of law and speedy justice. Due to political instability, extremism, sectarian violence and severe economic crisis spread in different parts of the country, life of common citizens has become difficult. From Balochistan to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, people are openly becoming victims of enforced disappearances, military repression and administrative apathy. In such a situation, when the top and senior leaders of the country use feudal language like only ‘tolerating’ the minorities, then the question becomes very urgent whether the scale of civil rights in Pakistan has been reduced to only second-rate tolerance, while the Constitution and laws there are only used to enhance the beauty on paper.
Forced conversion and continuous migration of Hindu minorities
The social and economic condition of the people of Hindu community living in rural areas of Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan remains very pathetic. Every day, inhuman news of kidnapping of young Hindu girls, forced conversion and forced marriage make headlines in the international media, but the attitude of the local police and administration in these cases has always been biased and insensitive, due to which the victims never get timely justice. Additionally, vandalism of ancient temples, occupation of holy sites and restrictions on religious freedom have become common. Fed up with all these reasons, every year hundreds of Hindu families are forced to leave their ancestral land, relationships and property and seek refuge in India or other countries. In the statements of senior leaders like Zardari, there is no concrete political will to resolve these serious, burning and sensitive issues, rather it just remains a cheap statement to burnish their image.
Ignoring human rights and defaming Pakistan on global forums
Pakistan’s government and its weak judicial system have always been on the radar of international human rights organizations. Strong questions are repeatedly raised at the United Nations and other global forums that Pakistan has completely failed to protect its own citizens, women and religious minorities. When the rule of law fails within the country and religious fanaticism is at its peak, then to hide their failure from the eyes of the world, the rulers make such statements that minorities are being ‘tolerated’. The word ‘tolerated’ in itself exposes a dictatorial and undemocratic mindset, because in a civilized, modern and progressive nation, citizens are not merely ‘tolerated’ as a favour, but are given the rights of full respect, equality and freedom under the Constitution.
Decline of democratic values and mirror for Pakistani rulers
In this current era of serious political and economic crisis in Pakistan, if the rulers and leaders there really want to take the country on the path of progress, then they will have to rise above such superficial and rhetorical statements and make real reforms at the ground level. Providing complete security to religious minorities and safeguarding their sacred places of worship as well as providing equal justice and freedom to every citizen of the country, irrespective of religion, caste or creed, should be the top priority of the Government. Unless Pakistan roots out the deep inequality, religious fanaticism, corruption and injustice growing within its own country, such statements by its leaders will only be considered a failed attempt to throw dust in the eyes of the international community. History is witness to the fact that a country which cannot provide security and justice to its most weak and destitute citizens can never survive as a strong, sovereign and stable nation.