You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed – that has nothing to do with the business of the state.
– Muhamad Ali Jinnah, Speech to the constituent assembly, August 11, 1947.
Sixty eight years ago, Muhammad Ali Jinnah proclaimed what freedom, amongst other things, meant for the Pakistanis. He envisioned a pak sar zameen (pure land); a land free of discrimination, hate, prejudice and bigotry. A land that will not impose on others the sufferings its people had endured. A land that will protect, liberate and empower its people.
And look at us now. We’re choking on the stench of our own hypocrisy and hate.
The Ahmaddiya community, classified as an Islamic movement, sect, branch and sometimes a separate religion altogether, constitutes around two to five million of Pakistan’s population (source: World Directory of Minorities). In 1953, anti-Ahmaddiya riots broke out in Lahore, resulting in the death of many Ahmadis. The severity of these riots led to the implementation of martial law in Lahore. In 1974, Ahmadis were declared non-Muslims by the Second Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan and were deprived of further religious rights by the issuance of the anti-Ahmaddiya Ordinance XX by Zia-ul-Haq in 1984. Severe and sustained violence was carried out during this time against Ahmadis, including the killing of their men, women and children, as well as the destruction of their property and religious places. But we love the father of our nation, and we uphold his values. We reiterate his words with our chests puffed out with our inflated egos. Of course, you are free in Pakistan.
It doesn’t end here. The history of Pakistan’s existence is marked by severe violence and everyday discrimination against the Ahmaddiya community; public stoning, cold-blooded murders, destruction of their property and places of worship, stealing and mugging, discriminatory publications against them, bias in education, employment and media representation…. the list is never-ending. In June 2011, pamphlets were distributed in Faisalabad declaring Ahmadis wajib-ul-Qatal (liable to be killed) and calling all Muslims to kill them. While we stand under the banner of modernity and progression, shouting liberal ideas and developmental schemes, our fellow citizens burn beside us. We ignore their pleas of help, ignore such blatant brutality and oppression.
Recently, a shop in Hafeez center had a poster with degrading remarks for Ahmadis. It basically pronounced no entry of Ahmadis in the shop, along with unnecessary, derogatory language. Someone took a picture of the poster and it went viral on social media, resulting in the arrest of the owners of the shop (for once, bravo Punjab police!). The FIR was registered under sections 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code and 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order (yes, we can use laws to protect minorities instead of rejecting them). This was something new for the people of Pakistan, because as evident, this nation does not stand up for minorities. It was refreshing to witness, and it was commended – contrary to popular belief – even if only by a very small proportion of the population.
But of course, we have to bring our hypocrisy to display. The arrests were followed by protests outside Hafeez Center, by the general public as well as the traders of the IT market. They demanded release of the offenders. Express Tribune reports that the president of Hafeez Centre Traders’ Association, Farooq Butt, claimed: “the police should refrain from intervening in matters related to our beliefs.” Please pay special note to the irony in the aforementioned statement. The very people who discriminate and object on the beliefs of another community now stand in protest for intervention in their religious beliefs! The duplicity of this nation never ceases to astound me.
So I have a question for all the Farooq Butts and this discriminatory nation of Pakistan: have you forgotten the prejudice against you in the subcontinent? How did you feel when they came for your houses because you slaughtered the cows? How did it feel when they banned the azaan? Why did you protest against Banday Matram? Why did you not rejoice being the ‘oppressed minority’? Why did you write poems and ghazals on the intolerance you faced? Why does your blood boil at the mention of your massacred brethren during the partition riots? Why does your conscience speak out only for a select few? Is your humanity that rotten? Why why why?
But no more. We are sick and tired of such flagrant discrimination and barbarism. We we will not stand by and watch this happen like every other time. Ab Nahi. Not anymore. What you do to the minorities in this country is not what my country is. Whether Ahmadis are Muslims or not is for God to decide. For a nation that dismisses much with “Allah knows best”, you certainly have played another ball game here. Regardless of what they are as a religious community, they are humans. Your actions cannot be justified by religion. That is not my Islam. Have you forgotten the teachings of your Prophet (peace be upon him) who used to stand at the funeral processions of Muslims and non-Muslims alike? Who used to eat at non-Muslim homes because he could not reject their offers, for fear he might hurt them? Have you forgotten your Muhammad (peace be upon him)’s Sunnah?
If they are living in peace, let them. Stop your violence, your bigotry, your biases. If you’re not the ones who do these, stand against those who do. Yes, we will face consequences. Are we not already? Are we not disintegrating as a nation? You can no longer even see the vestiges of Jinnah’s Pakistan. Can you imagine what Jinnah would’ve felt had he been alive today?
…We have many non-Muslims – Hindus, Christians, and Parsis – but they are all Pakistanis. They will enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other citizens and will play their rightful part in the affairs of Pakistan.
—- Broadcast talk to the people of the United States on Pakistan recorded February, 1948
We have excruciating amount of work to do for this country. How can you even spare a moment for hate? For cowardice? These are not the values of this nation or any religion. There is still time. It is never too late. Stand up now. Wake up Pakistan. Ab aur Nahi.
Rise, and from their slumber wake the poor ones of My world!
Shake the walls and windows of the mansions of the “great”!
Kindle with the fire of faith the dormant blood of the slaves!
Make the fearful sparrow bold to meet the falcon’s hate!
– Translated from Allama Iqbal’s Farman-e-Khuda
Author’s note
For your reference:
http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/amendments/2amendment.html
Feel free to verify Islam and the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) stance on treatment of non-Muslims/minorities/oppressed. Sources used are the Quran (Surah Yunus, Surah An-Nisaa, Al-Mumtahanah and surely others) as well as Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
