Pakistani bishops voice concern on National Minority Day

As Pakistan’s minority communities marked National Minorities Day on thursday, two Catholic bishops called for a more inclusive society lamenting that despite Mohammad Ali Jinna, the founder of Pakistan, promising respect for all religions, minorities today are in the throes of intolerance.  Non-Muslim citizens "have played a vital role in the formation of Pakistan. Not only they gave their lives for freedom but still continue to fight for nation building. This is why their concerns must be addressed by the government”, said Bishop Joseph Arshad of Faisalabd, the president of the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace, during the celebration of the National Minorities Day on Thursday in Lahore.

The Pakistani government established the annual observance in 2009, to recognize the sacrifice and service of minority groups.  Celebrating the day on the 69th anniversary of Jinnah’s historic 1947 speech to the Constitutive Assembly of the new nation, the Government of Punjab and the Department for Human Rights and Minorities organized a day of meetings, songs and speeches in Lahore to honor the non-Muslim communities. They were attended by thousands of religious, parish employees, Hindu and Sikh leaders.

"We know that Pakistan is going through a difficult phase in its history,” Bishop Arshad noted.  “Religious intolerance and neglect in society have created a sense of hopelessness among the people. Minorities must be included as an integral part of society”.   Archbishop Sebastian Shah of Lahore recalled Jinnah assuring Pakistan’s “Christian leaders that every person in Pakistan would have a free life in accordance with their religion and that the state would have no problem with religions.”  With Pakistani Independence Day coming up on August 14th, he said, “we must think about which direction our country is taking”. 

Minister for Higher Education, Zakia Shahnawaz supported the bishops' appeals, but said that Muslims cannot stop terrorism alone.  “Our hearts cry together every time a suicide bomber blows himself up and kills everyone. We need to look together for solutions to these problems,” she said.  (Source: AsiaNews)