Expressing voice concern the growing targeted killings of members of Non-Muslims communities, the participants at a consultative dialogue on Minorities issues, have demanded the government to ensure protection of Non-Muslims in the province. The dialogue on titled: 'Religious Freedom and Minorities Rights', arranged by South Asia Partnership of Pakistan (SAP-Pk) with representatives of political parties and members civil society, held at local hotel here on Wednesday.
Sikandar Zaman, a regional manager (SAP-Pk) KP and Fata, Chairman of All Pakistan Hindu Rights Movement (APHRM), Harun Sarb Diyal, Qari Bashir from JUI-F, PTI MPA Ziaullah Bangash, Naila Naz, PPP Nigah Hussain, Jamila Gilani from ANP, Rakhshanda Naz and Taimor Kamal of civil society and Shahida Shah and Hameed Gondal hailing from SAP-PK, and Agha Bukhtiar of Pakistan Worker Party (PWP), as keynote speakers at the dialogue session.
The participants condemned killings of non-Muslims particularly men of Sikh community in recent some months and expressed their solidarity with Sikhs for losses of their beloved ones due to terrorism and demand of the government to not only arrest the murderers forthwith but also take stern steps for protection of non-Muslims in future.
Diyal shared his woes regarding government's negligence about non-Muslims, said that they were feeling complete insecure in the prevailing situation and they see no bright future of their descendants. He held the present curriculum responsible for creating detestation against non-Muslims particularly Hindu and Sikh communities. "Islam guarantees all kind of our protection and holy places as well but our worst enemy is the curriculum", he lamented. The curriculum, he maintained was inciting the society against the communities, which should be removed. Condemning killings of minorities, Qari Bashir said that Islam protects rights of everyone whether the person belongs to Muslim or non-Muslim community but it is the state's onus to take measures for full security to all.