Let's Not Forget The Importance of Our Minorities This Christmas

By Hamza Ghaznavi | 24 Dec, 2015

Attacks on Pakistan’s minority communities aren’t something new and to an extent signify the backward societal trend that Pakistan is on. Many fingers are pointed, some at the governments, some at the security agencies, some even at the victims themselves for their very existence. If things are to change, however, Pakistanis as a whole need to take the blame upon themselves and collectively come up with a solution to make the country safe for all communities, regardless of their religious affiliations.

It can be argued that Pakistanis have become desensitized to the number of deaths that occur in the country. There have been so many news headlines of bomb explosions that they’ve become somewhat of a recurring story. And rather than focussing on anti-terrorism to protect all Pakistanis, it seems as if the government is more passionate about banning YouTube, protecting itself from online criticism and constructing Metro Trains. Their opposition on the other hand, is more concerned about the upcoming election. And a considerable number of Pakistanis are more focused on issues concerning Gaza, Kashmir, or simply hating India, rather than paying more attention to what’s happening internally within the country.

It’s rather sad and disturbing when (or if) one comes to the realization that regardless of the violence Pakistan’s minority communities have endured, they have given so much to the progress of a nation that has almost forgotten them.

Maybe this can remind you of what the minority communities have done for Pakistan.

 

They are Nobel Laureates.

Dr. Abdus Salam (Ahmedi)

Source: Wikipedia

Mohammad Abdus Salam was a Pakistani theoretical physicist who became the first Pakistani to ever receive a Nobel Prize for his contribution to physics.

He has also been honored with the following:

  • Sitara-i-Pakistan Award
    Government of Pakistan
  • Pride of Performance Medal and Award
    Government of Pakistan
  • 1st Fellow from Pakistan
    The Royal Society, London, UK

The Marie Curie Library holds a permanent exhibition of Abdus Salam’s collections of awards and gifts, and is home to his private library, consisting of over 1280 books covering all sciences, humanities, social sciences, literature, the arts, history and geography.

When he was buried in Bahishti Maqbara, the epitaph on his tomb initially read “First Muslim Nobel Laureate”. The word “Muslim” was later obscured on the orders of a local magistrate, leaving “First Nobel Laureate”

 

They are artists.

Ismail Gulgee (Ismaili)

Source: pakistanpaedia

Winner of Hilal-e-Imtiaz, he was an award-winning, globally famous artist born in Peshawar. Guljee was a qualified engineer in the US, as well as a self-taught abstract and portrait painter. To this day, he is considered to be one of the best artists Pakistan ever produced.

 

They are the trend setters.

Deepak Perwani (Hindu)

Source: European Fashion Council

Deepak Perwani is a well-known Pakistani fashion designer and actor. He’s one of the most prominent members of the Hindu Sindhi community in Pakistan. Deepak also occasionally appears in dramas, notably “Meray Paas Paas” and “Kudurat”.

He has been awarded the following:

  • “Unique Acknowledgements” Award for his Guinness World Record for making the largest kurta ever, to fit the size of a 175 ft tall person. (The kurta was later used to make smaller kurtas for children in the Edhi Foundation).
  • “Charity and Humanitarian Support” Award for being involved with 11 global charitable organizations.

For his philanthropic services, especially for his donation of the record size kurta, a statue is to be erected for him at the International Fashion Museum in Plovdic, Bulgaria.

 

They defy the impossible.

Samina Baig (Ismaili)

Source: Tribune

Even at the top of the world, Samina lets the world know that she’s a Pakistani.

Samina Baig was the first Pakistani Women to scale Mount Everest in 2013. The Everest climb wasn’t her first significant achievement – she was also the first person to reach the summit of the 6,400-metre Chashkin Sar peak in northern Pakistan in 2010. The peak was later renamed as Samina Baig Peak.

 

They are honest and just.

Rana Bhagwandas (Hindu)

Source: Dawn

Rana Bhagwandas was a senior judge and former acting chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (CJP). He remained the acting CJP during the 2007 judicial crisis in Pakistan and also briefly became the acting Chief Justice of Pakistan when the incumbent Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry went on foreign tours in 2005 and 2006, there by becoming the first Hindu to serve as chief of the highest court in Pakistan.

 

They are patriots.

Mervyn Middlecoat (Christian)

Source: Heritage Images

Wing Commander Mervyn Leslie Middlecoat was a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter pilot who was involved in a number of aerial battles during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, before being shot down on 12 December 1971.

King Hussien of Jordan wrote to Middlecoat’s widow stating that his death was a personal loss for the King, requesting to bury him with the Jordanian national flag under his head if he was to be wrapped in the Pakistani flag. Middlecoat had fought for the King earlier during the 6 day war with Israel.

 

They are the unsung heroes.

Justice Alvin Robert Cornelius (Christian)

Source: Allahabad Dekho

Justice Alvin Robert Cornelius served as the 4th Chief Justice of Pakistan from 1960 to 1968. He was also a leading figure in the Pakistan Movement and assisted Quaid-e-Azam in drafting the Pakistan Resolution, adding the legal clauses and articles justifying the rights of Muslim and non-Muslim communities. Moreover, he was also one of the founding figures of Pakistan cricket after partition and was one of the three founding vice-presidents of the Pakistan Cricket Board (before it became the mess it is today).

 

They are writers and free-thinkers.

Ardeshir Cowasjee (Parsi)

Source: Dawn

The ever smiling Arsdeshir Cowasjee was a Paksitani newspaper columnist, social activist, and philanthropist. Hailing from Karachi, his columns regularly appeared in the country’s oldest English newspaper, Dawn News. He was also the Chairman of the historic Cowasjee group and was engaged in philanthropic activities. Cowasjee was fondly regarded as an old “guardian” of Karachi.

 

And they have given birth to Father of the Nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Source: Dawn

It might come as a surprise to many, but Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, was born to an Ismaili Family.

 

Unfortunately, this is how they’ve been treated in return.

At least 13,000 Hazara men, women and children have lost their lives while more than 15000 have been injured in Quetta in recent years

Source: Associated Press

 

More than a dozen Christians have been persecuted against over alleged blasphemy (with no evidence – a 14 year old girl made to this list as well) or over some amateur drawing or film made by a non-Pakistani. Over 200 Christian homes have been burnt over unproved blasphemy allegations.

Source: Dawn News

 

Over 5,000 Hindus are forced to flee Pakistan every year due to persecution.

Source: Pamela Gellar
Source: NBC News

A Hindu temple burns after it was attacked in Larkana, Sindh.

 

Since they were declared Non-Muslim during Zia’s regime, 245 Ahmadis have been killed while another 205 have been assaulted.

In 2010, an attack on an Ahmedi Masjid in Lahore resulted in the death of more than 100 innocent civilians.

Source: CNN

 

On May 13th, 2015 – 45 Ismalis, including women and children were massacred in Karachi. Rest in peace.

 

 

“We are starting with the fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one state. No matter what is his color, caste or creed is first, second and last a citizen of this state with equal rights, privileges and obligations.

Pakistan will provide its minorities an ample field for the outlet of their genius and they should come forward and play their role as true citizens in making Pakistan one of the greatest nations.”

– Muhammad Ali Jinnah

 

Quaid-e-Azam was buried in 1948 and one can be forgiven for thinking that the true ideology of Pakistan was buried with him. The minority community of Pakistan are as much Pakistanis as anyone else – no less than anyone. As such, it is the responsibility of the majority population to take it upon themselves to stand with the minority community of Pakistan and make them feel like equals, to feel like real citizens of Pakistan.

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But there is still a little bit of hope

Aq2riziwW6kp6H-39ClOMAuPKNRQ7EjMajnZWtCapoFsSeen at Alhamra Arts Complex in Lahore
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