Hazaras- Target practice for sectarian violence

According to a CIA report there are approximately 2.7 million Hazaras in Afghanistan. (Source: http://minorityrights.org/minorities/hazaras/)

Dictionary.com defines Hazaras as an Iranian ethnolinguistic group in central Afghanistan, North Pakistan,and Iran. Most of whom are Shiʿite Muslims. (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/hazara).

Just last year 7 women of Hazara origin were killed due to discrimination and out of ‘honour.’ A total of 43 women were murdered and around 32 were kidnapped.

These instances are not randomized, and they are not uncommon. Since the post British Raj era there have been disputes between people of different cultures and religious sects in the subcontinent and it’s neighbouring countries.

In Afghanistan, they constitute Hazaras are the third largest ethnic group but still complain of maltreatment by the dominant Pashtuns. In Pakistan, around 500,000 Hazaras live, mainly in Quetta, where they have offered impressive services in local police, bureaucracy, labor force, education, information technology and sports. The women of Balochistan in particular have striven very hard to break stereotypes. This being said the persecution of this group due to their heritage, and their Shia sect are totally unacceptable.

In October 2011, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), a respected Lahore-based independent rights group, urged the president and prime minister of Pakistan to take “immediate, direct and personal initiative” to stop the attacks on the Hazara community.

As a proud Pakistani I feel there is no question about the aid this minority requires. Whether it be financial assistance, humanitarian work or even awareness campaigns, something needs to be done!

 

Religious Freedom in Pakistan!

Religious freedom is restricted in Pakistan. Christians, Sikhs, Hindus have been continuously attacked and abused in Pakistan. When we talk about rights for religious minorities, Pakistan is the center  of interest for much international controversies, even though Pakistan’s religious minorities represent just 3.7% of its population of about 205 million. These minorities are deprived of economic opportunities, political opportunities and freedom of religion.

Many famous people have raised their voices for the minorities in Pakistan but they haven’t been that successful.

A very famous incident that gained a lot of attention from all over the world was the killing of a Christian couple in Pakistan by an angry mob who accused the couple of burning a copy of the Quran. “Christian couple ‘burned to death by Pakistani mob had legs broken to stop them fleeing and wife was wrapped in cotton so she’d burn faster’. This was a headline that started appearing on many news channels and an outcry broke out. This incident portrayed a very negative image of Pakistan around the world. Blasphemy is a very sensitive issue in many Muslim countries.

What else?

 

There have been many suicide attacks carried on the minorities. Churches have been attacked, burned. The 2016 Lahore suicide bombing was one of the biggest attacks that took place. It was an Easter Sunday. At least 75 people were killed and over 340 injured in the suicide bombing that took place at the  main entrance of a very famous park, Gulshan E Iqbal Park. one of the largest parks in Lahore. Many people raised their voices, there were many protests, there was an outcry.

Not only Christians, Hindus have also been attacked. There are many incidents of Hindu temples, statues attacked and put on fire.

Fact!

According to a report by Minority Rights Group International , Pakistan is one of the most unsafe countries for religious minorities.

Rules and Laws?

There have been many efforts made by the state and society to create an environment that is friendly towards minorities but none of them have proved to be that successful. It is high time that we introduce laws and practically work for the protection of rights of the minorities in Pakistan.

• There has been a unanimous approval of the Hindu Marriage Bill by the parliament.
• ‘The Criminal Law (Protection of Minorities) Act 2016’,  legislation aims at having a continuous look  on forced conversions, which forces  a person to convert to another religion under threat. According to this law, there is  a minimum of five years and up to life imprisonment to those who are found guilty of converting anyone under threat.
• “Equality of citizens.” All citizens are equal.

But despite these laws, minorities in Pakistan feel as if they are second class citizens who only have a few or no rights at all.

“FREEDOM OF RIGHTS IN PAKISTAN”

 

The article 19 of the constitution reads “Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression an there shall be freedom of press, subject to any reasonable restriction imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defense of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, in relation to contempt of court (commission of) or incitement to an offence”.

In my opinion the circumstance of human rights in Pakistan is unpredictable because of the nation’s decent variety, huge population, its status as a creating nation and a sovereign, Islamic republic and in addition a majority rule government with a blend of both Islamic and mainstream laws.

The Constitution of Pakistan accommodates major rights, which incorporate the right to speak freely, opportunity of thought, flexibility of data, opportunity of religion, opportunity of affiliation, opportunity of the press, flexibility of get together and the (contingent) appropriate to remain battle ready. The Clauses likewise accommodate an autonomous Supreme Court, division of official and legal, an autonomous legal, free Human Rights commission and flexibility of development inside the nation and abroad. In any case it is easy to refute how much these provisos are regarded by and by.

The government muzzled dissenting voices in nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and media. It passed vague and over broad  cyber crimes legislation installing new curbs of freedom of expression and criminalizing peaceful internet use.

Women, religious minorities, and transgender people faced violent attacks, insecurity, and persecution, with the government failing to provide adequate protection and hold perpetrators accountable.

According to tribune Child marriage remains a serious concern in Pakistan, with 21 percent of girls marrying before the age of 18. In January 2016, a proposal submitted to parliament by whom aimed to raise the legal minimum age to 18 for females and introduce harsher penalties for those who arrange child marriage. However, on January 14, 2016, the proposal was withdrawn following strong pressure from the Council of Islamic Ideology, a body that advises the parliament on Islamic law. The council criticized the proposal as “anti-Islamic” and “blasphemous.”Violence against women and girls including rape, murder through so-called honor killings, acid attacks, domestic violence, and forced marriage remained routine. Pakistani human rights NGOs estimate that there are about 1,000 “honor killings” every year.

 

In conclusion my point of view  is that  the conditions prevailing today in Pakistan affect every individual life. If we are to improve conditions then the law must be upheld to bring peace and security to the land and to build lives of dignity and respect.  It is duty of every individual to stand up and prevent any violations or breaking of the law.  If we are to build a better nation then familiarity with the law is also to some degree necessary.

 

ABDUL ALI KHAN

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