News Desk
Lahore, June 12, 2024:
Prominent leaders of religious minorities, human rights activists, and representatives of civil society organizations gathered at the Lahore Press Club for a Minorities Convention, organized by Rwadari Tehreek Pakistan. The event aimed to voice outrage and concerns over the persistent misuse of blasphemy laws, hate speech, and violence incited by extremist groups.
The participants collectively pledged to intensify their efforts against religious extremism, intolerance, and violence targeting religious minorities across Pakistan. They emphasized the urgency of addressing the misuse of blasphemy laws, which are frequently abused to settle personal scores and incite sectarian sentiments, disproportionately affecting religious minorities. The attendees called for immediate government intervention to review and amend these laws to prevent their misuse.
Highlighting repeated failures of police and law enforcement agencies to protect citizens and their properties from mob violence following blasphemy allegations, the participants urged the development of effective strategies to enhance the capacity and efficiency of these agencies. They demanded the formation of a Judicial Commission to investigate all blasphemy-related incidents, from the burning of Shanti Nagar to the lynching of Nazir Masih in Sargodha, to uncover the root causes behind these events.
Calls were made for speedy and fair trials of individuals involved in the Jaranwala tragedy and the lynching of Nazir Masih, without succumbing to extremist pressures. The attendees stressed the urgent need to ban extremist groups that propagate hate and incite violence against religious minorities under the guise of blasphemy laws. They urged the government to take concrete steps to eliminate hate material and abusive language targeting Hindu, Christian, Ahmadi, and Shia communities from media and online platforms.
A comprehensive de-radicalization plan was proposed, including strict implementation of hate speech laws, removal of biased content from educational curricula, and a zero-tolerance policy for extremist outfits and their supporters. The signatories of the declaration included notable figures such as Samson Salamat, Chairman of Rwadari Tehreek Pakistan; Ejaz Alam Augustine, Minority Representative in the Punjab Assembly; Lala Robin Daniel, Chairman of the National Minorities Alliance; Rev. Emmanuel Khokhar, Dean of Raiwind Diocese and Spokesperson for the Church of Pakistan; and many others from various organizations advocating for minority rights and social justice.
The convention concluded with a strong call to action, urging the government and stakeholders to ensure the safety, security, and rights of religious minorities in Pakistan. The participants reaffirmed their commitment to continuing their struggle against religious extremism and intolerance, aiming to create a more inclusive and peaceful society.