According to the constitution of Pakistan, every individual has equal rights to live one’s own life in accordance with the law of the state whether one is a muslim or a non-muslim. Similarly, minorities, being citizens of Pakistan, have the same rights as others have. But it is sad to state that condition is conversely adverse in the land of pure; where they people are treated as second class citizens; where minorities have been become soft targets either in the form of forced conversions or vandalizing their sacred places whether in the name of religion or personal enmity by extremist minded people. Though, demolishing holy places of other religions also lie in the ambit of blasphemous law. The recent incident of setting fire to a shrine (demolished in 1997 too by another mob) of a Hindu saint by mobs in Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is also an intolerable and condemnable act.
However, no law has been passed to fight this peril out-and-out from our society. No serious action is taken against those ill-minded people who are involved in these ill-planned acts. Hence, it’s a dire need of hour for the ruling government as well as concerned authorities of the state to take pragmatic measures for overcoming this cruelty, and look into this matter for the protection of the vulnerable as well as marginalized sections of the society and its sacred places.
Kamlesh Bansari
Sujawal
