In the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, where there is a Muslim majority, there is also a minority. The people of other faiths are also living in this country like the rest of Muslims.
In Pakistan, minorities have all the rights. Even reserve quota in all government services including civil services are allocated to them.
There are 428 Hindu temples, 100,000 churches, and 70 Gurdwaras across the country. The minorities perform their religious rites freely and with no insecurity of life and property. Moreover, the ruling elites including prime ministers, chief ministers, officials of armed forces, and other personalities from all walks of life encourage and empower them with their participation.
Not long ago, the government of Pakistan opened the Kartarpur Corridor and welcomed Sikhs from all over the world to Pakistan. That magnanimous gesture made Pakistan popular all over the world. In view of this decision, the present government of Pakistan decided to build a new temple in Islamabad. While the government’s decision has pleased the Hindu minority in Pakistan, it has hurt some.
Now, if you look at the West, you will find that in these countries, since Muslims are in the minority, there are many historical mosques. Muslims who are in the minority there have complete religious freedom. There are mosques all over the world. Outside the White House, Muslims protest and offer prayers. In New Zealand, when Muslims were victims of terrorism, the Qur’an was recited in the Assembly in the presence of their Prime Minister. The Prime Minister of Canada frequently visits Muslim mosques to express solidarity with them. Now Sadiq Khan is the Mayor of London which was considered as a world capital in the 20th century and he makes Muslims proud all over the world.
The rights of minorities not only in Pakistan but in all civilized countries of the world are protected. The United Nations body for religious freedom scrutinizes countries around the world and publishes its report on it. That is why every country gives full protection and religious protection to the minority in order to show its commitment to minority rights. According to the same year’s report, Pakistan has been declared a safe country for its minority while India was declared an unsafe and dangerous place for minorities.
The current government of Pakistan has decided to build a new temple in Islamabad in view of the worldwide response to the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. After this decision, the religiously motivated Islamic community here expressed their reservations about it. But if you look, the Hindu community in Pakistan, like the rest of the citizens, pays the same taxes as the rest of the Muslim majority. And Pakistan’s law is as binding on them as it is on the rest of the majority. So these minorities have the same right to this Islamic democracy as the rest of the people.
The founding father “Muhammad Ali Jinnah“ laid down the ideological foundation of Pakistan by his 11th August 1947 speech,
“You are free; you are free to go to your temples. You are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste or creed—that has nothing to do with the business of the state. All of you are equal citizens of the state.”
To conclude, Islamabad has hundreds of mosques in almost every street, the Hindu citizens have equal rights to get at least one temple constructed in the capital city. Peaceful Co-Existence, Communal Harmony & Freedom to worship are the basis of any civilised society.
Awais Gilani, Islamabad
