ISLAMABAD: The opposition senators on Friday expressed concern over sectarian tension and violence in the country and demanded of the government to play its role in creating religious/interfaith harmony in the country while ensuring the protection of people from minority faiths and take on those elements who wanted to divide Pakistan on sectarian and religious lines.
Speaking on a point of public importance during Senates session regarding "alarming escalation in hate campaigns and sectarian violence against the Shia community in Pakistan, "Parliamentary Leader of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in Senate, Sherry Rehman, said there has been an alarming surge in target killings of Shias over the last month.
According to few sources, there have been 20 such cases where Shias were targeted on the basis of their faith but this issue is not being raised, she added.
"This is plainly shocking to say the least. Not less than 20 per cent of Pakistan's Muslim population is Shia. We are reeling under a new surge of sectarian violence which is targeting Shias across the country and threatening new rounds of instability," she said.
"This wave of sectarian violence in Pakistan is extremely dangerous and all of us agree that to become a peaceful democratic society we cannot let such extremism and intolerance exist within us. It is crucial that the government gives a policy statement and takes action. Rallies targeting the Shia Muslims are being orchestrated by proscribed terror groups on our roads where hate slogans are being chanted. This is an extremely sensitive matter which needs to be dealt with immediately. Our people have sacrificed a lot to eradicate terrorism from Pakistan," Rehman said.
"This is Jinnah's Pakistan where '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.' Federal government needs to protect these basic rights as Shias are also the citizens of this country. Their rights are enshrined in our constitution like every citizen. Muslim or non-Muslim, every citizen should have the equal protection of the law."
"Our Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him always respected and protected anyone who was vulnerable and gave them space. We seek to be a progressive, inclusive country and such incidents will only tarnish our image in the world," she added.
"This issue is a part of National Action Plan (NAP) but nothing is being done about it. We all need to sit together and come up with an action plan to curb this issue before it escalates even more. The federal government also needs to urgently address the alarming increase in sectarian violence," Rehman added.
General Secretary Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said the creation of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) an umbrella organization of religious political parties, aimed at bridging the sectarian divide by having representation from different Islamic faiths. He said a Shia Zakir (orator) recently made a highly blasphemous and condemnable speech regarding Sahaba (companions of Holy prophet PBUH) which fuelled sectarian tension. "These kind of people need to be taken to task in order to avoid sectarian tension. Justice be done with all those involved in igniting sectarian hatred," he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Muhammad Khan, said the 'prudent' policies of government and "blessing of Allah Pakistan has helped curtail the spread of COVID-19."
Replying to a question during the Question Hour in Senate, he said the world has acknowledged Pakistan's efforts to overcome the pandemic. He lauded the services rendered by doctors and paramedics during the fight against corona. The minister said the government is making all out efforts to maintain the standard of laboratories.
Federal Minister for Federal Education, Shafqat Mahmood, told the House that Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the education authorities to "aware students about life of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wa Salam Khatam-un-Nabiyyin." In this regard, three Seerat Chairs out of nine have been established in the different public sector universities. Responding to a question, Federal Minister for Communications, Murad Saeed says two service areas have been constructed on Lahore-Abdul Hakeem Motorway. Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani presided over the Senate session which has been prorogued.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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