Pakistan people demand religious freedom

(April 15, 2011) In Pakistan, Christian and Muslim speakers at a government-sponsored conference on Wednesday lauded the Church’s role in peace and harmony. Liberals of both faiths urged the government to separate state from religion in the “Peace and Harmony” conference at the Alhambra Arts Council building in Lahore. The human rights and minority affairs department of Punjab province organized the event. The speakers, mostly minority leaders, demanded revisions of the constitution and school syllabus to counter increasing militancy in the country. “Suicide bombings and terrorism have become routine”, said Father Emmanuel Yousaf Mani, national director of Catholic Bishop’s National Commission for Justice and Peace, addressing an audience of more than 300. He recommended making Pakistan a secular state and expelling hate material from the school curriculum. There has been much criticism of textbooks in Urdu, the national language, and Islamic studies which are abundant with verses from the Qur’an which encourage jihad and depict non Muslims as enemies, he explained. The parliament in April last year passed an amendment bill to introduce a new law saying only a Muslim could become the prime minister of the country. Earlier the condition was only for the president. Hindu leaders complained construction of temples has come to a halt in the country.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's leading human rights group says the government is failing to protect its citizens, especially religious minorities. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan criticized thegovernment as it released its annual report for 2010 on Thursday. The report provides the year's statistics derived largely from media accounts. It underscores the poor security in a nation wracked by a Taliban insurgency. The report also highlights violence against religious minorities, including attacks that killed 99 members of the Ahmadi sect. It notes that security agencies often violate citizens' rights, such as through extra-judicial killings. Commission officials say political parties must work together to improve human rights instead of playing power games.