News Desk
Lahore, August 12, 2024:
Despite pressure imposed by the Punjab authorities, scores of people, including human rights activists and members of religious minorities, gathered to observe National Minority Day on August 11. The event was organized by the Rwadari Tehreek Pakistan, a social movement advocating for pluralism, to highlight the challenges faced by religious minorities in the country, said the press release
The organizers initially planned a 24-hour hunger strike and a Minority Rights March in front of the Punjab Assembly to draw attention to the plight of religious minorities. However, the Punjab Government, in conjunction with the police, applied heavy pressure on the organizers to postpone the event, states the presser
Press statement further said, On August 10, the day the hunger strike was set to begin, a large police force was deployed at the National Council of Churches compound in Lahore to prevent the rally from reaching the Punjab Assembly. Renowned human rights defender Saeeda Diep, 62, and Rwadari Tehreek Vice Chairman Deedar Ahmed were detained at a local police station.
Due to the authorities pressure, the organizers changed the venue and defer the hunger strike. On August 11, they reconvened at the Lahore Press Club, where a heavy police presence was again deployed to prevent a rally. Nevertheless, the participants defied the restrictions and marched outside the Press Club, chanting slogans against the violence against minorities, often justified by false blasphemy accusations.
During the rally, a Charter of Demands was unanimously adopted by the participants. The key demands included:
- A grand debate in the National Assembly, Senate, and Provincial Assemblies on the misuse of blasphemy laws, followed by the introduction of a Minorities Protection Bill.
- The banning of extremist outfits that spread hate and violence against minorities under the pretext of blasphemy, along with stern action against them.
- Justice for the perpetrators involved in the Jaranwala tragedy and the lynching of Nazir Masih in Sargodha.
- An impartial judicial inquiry into all attacks on religious minorities, from the 1997 Shanti Nagar incident to the recent lynching in Sargodha, to determine the veracity of the accusations.
- The development of effective strategies to enhance the capacity of police and administrative bodies to protect citizens, particularly in the context of mob violence following blasphemy allegations.
- A comprehensive de-radicalization plan, including the enforcement of hate speech laws, the removal of biased material from educational curricula, and zero tolerance for extremist militant outfits and their supporters.
The event was attended by various religious, social, and political leaders, including Rwadari Tehreek Chairman Samson Salamat, Vice Chairman Deedar Ahmed Mirani, and representatives from organizations such as Christians True Spirit and Human Friends Organization. Senior human rights defenders, religious leaders, and political figures also participated, voicing their support for the cause and calling for immediate government action to protect the rights and safety of religious minorities in Pakistan.