Multan Punjab, Pakistan: In yet another example of subjugation of minorities
in Pakistan, Multan Bar Association passed a resolution which forbids
non-Muslim lawyers including Christians to participate in the Bar council
elections in the city, local media reported.
Source: Roznama Jang, Pakistan
The
resolution was presented by the lawyers of District Bar Association of Multan.
It stated that the lawyers contesting bar elections will also need to submit an
affidavit to prove their faith in Islam, District Bar Association of Multan
must be questioned and condemned locally and globally for passing this
resolution.
This resolution
reflects the fruits of the last 50 years education syllabus & social
teachings that is now being practiced in Pakistan. It is a reality that Christians,
Hindus, Sikhs & Other religious minorities are portrayed as villains and aliens
who does not belong here & deserve no development and progress in Pakistan.
It is also
a fact that over the years the deliberate distortion of history has eliminated the
social respect & overall contribution of Christians community’s role during
the independence movement and their role in development in various segments including
education, health & defense for Pakistan e.g. the key role of Dewan Bahadur
S.P Singhna & Other Christian politicians who casted decisive votes for
Punjab to be included in Pakistan is unknown to a common citizen belonging to majority
population.
I
personally am witness of the fact that at grassroots level no common citizen
belonging to majority population knows about the names or role of Christians
during Pakistan’s independence & no one knows the names of Christian
martyrs who heroically fought and gave their lives for Pakistan during wars against
neighbor country, nobody admits or realizes the Christian contribution in the
field of health, education and defense of Pakistan.
This
resolution passed by District Bar Association, Multan reflects the religious racism
and hatred by well educated group. Imagine how less educated groups treat
Christians in Punjab, Pakistan. Christians are considered unclean and are highly
discouraged to run any small business such as grocery stores, small food
points, vegetable stalls and no one buys from them due to this religious hatred
and bias approach and if a Christian tries to establish any selling point it
fails miserably.
Due to
similar approach as this passed resolution Christians are deliberately steered
towards jobs of sewage workers and the Christians who are educated and skilled serving
in sectors such as Lawyers, Doctors, Nurses, Teachers etc. face harsh social &
systematic discrimination and are deliberately denied progress opportunities
that are announced at Government & Private sector.
In 2019, I Personally am a witness of a
complete case study of a well educated, skilled Christian Nurse who was systematically
victimized by authorities at Nishtar Hospital Multan during the Nursing BSN
deputation opportunity announced by Punjab Government in 2019.
She qualified the merit & passed the entry
test and was not included in the final list because in 2018 she stood for her right
of Christian faith to conduct memorial service of her late mother, Hospital
administration proved their religious hatred by comments such as that,” they
don’t allow leave for memorial services” and did not allow her 3 day leave for
conducting her late mother’s memorial service prayer meetings. She had positive
leave balance in her record as per Government policy but she was marked absent
and suffered salary deduction.
She was not allowed leave for memorial
service in 2018 because back in 2014 she stood for her right to save her daughter
during pregnancy as hospital authority denied her the right to avail leave when
her doctor advised her rest for few days due to pregnancy complications. She
had positive leave balance in her record as per Government policy but she was
marked absent and suffered salary deduction.
That’s how educated and skilled working class
Christians are treated by Government authorities in Pakistan targeted with
Hatred & systematic Discrimination!
Majority
population of Punjab & Multan must step up and condemn this act of District
Bar Association Multan’s passed resolution which is based upon religious hatred.
Christians
have contributed a great deal in education and health sector of Multan &
Southern Punjab with existing examples such as Lasalle School Systems, Christian
Hospitals, BHUs and especially during natural disasters of 2010 floods the local
and global Christians stormed in & helped majority population through
relief, rehab initiatives and monetary aid.
Unfortunately
the common person belonging to majority population is never told about the local
and global Christian contribution and Christian aid that Pakistan receives on
daily basis which needs to be shared officially with common public by Federal
& Provincial Governments to enhance the mutual respect among religions.
Common Pakistani
citizens must be told what Christians have done for them during last 70 years
and what Christians are doing for them to stand on their feet for next 70 years.
If
possible the Operation Rud-Al-Fasad must step up against the responsible individuals
for passing such resolutions especially in Punjab for damaging the one nation vision
& theory that Quaid-E-Azam M.A Jinnah gave Pakistan in his speeches.
Let’s wait
and see but let’s not raise our expectations & brainstorm the long term
solution for the future of Christian children in subcontinent.
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