PESHAWAR:
Looking back, non-Muslims were safe from bigotry-based violence during the war against the former Soviet Union, waged by the Afghans with the help of US-led allies and the Arab world.
It all changed after the collapse of late Najibullah’s regime in 1992. Hindus and Sikhs from Afghanistan poured into Peshawar and then continued their journey either towards India or the West. The Afghan Mujahideen were part of internal conflicts over power, and Afghanistan and adjoining tribal areas were their safe havens. The fall of Afghanistan into the hands of the Taliban eventually turned the region into a ‘forbidden state’ for adherents of other faiths or other interpretations of Islam.
In the wake of 9/11, the infiltration of al Qaeda, Afghan Taliban and other militants into Waziristan from Afghanistan has caused irreparable loss of life and livelihood for non-Muslims.
Non-Muslims from not only Tirah but Swat, Buner, Shangla and Hangu were left with no choice but to abandon their homes and start a new life in Peshawar and cities in other provinces. Proof of Sikhs and Hindus pre-existing Pakistan lies in their ancestral homes and inherited businesses, yet these do not prevent extremists from targeting them.
A heavy cross to bear
While people from almost every religious minority are being affected by the ongoing militancy, Sikhs seem to be suffering more in the last few years. They are not only frequently targeted by killers but also abducted for ransom and have been forced to abandon homes and even the country. Reports of forced conversions have made headlines in international media and left human rights bodies clamouring for the protection of religious minorities.
In recent months, seven Sikh traders and a Muslim employee have fallen victim to target killing in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Over a dozen have been abducted for ransom. Those killed in targeted attacks include Jagmohan, Mandar Singh, Mehendar Singh, Harbajan Singh, Dilsaz Singh, Bagwan Singh and Parmjeet Singh. The latter killed along with a Muslim employee, Zahid, in his shop at Shabqadar, Charsadda. Jaspal Singh was abducted by unidentified militants and later his body was found beheaded. Sardar Singh and Satnam Singh lost their lives in a rocket attack. Manmeet Singh and Parmjeet Singh were injured in the attack which killed Jagmohan and are still hospitalised.
Around 15 Sikh families—more than 100 individuals—recently migrated to India for the sake of survival. The matter of Hindus migrating from rural Sindh is more common but a large number of Hindu and Sikh families have also left Swat, Buner and Shangla for India.
Christians are also being persecuted and have been forced to find their way to safer destinations. On September 22, 2013, twin suicide bombing at All Saints Church Peshawar left nearly 100 dead and forced Christians of the city to realign their existence there.
Reports reveal after this tragic incident a large number of Christian families, mostly the younger generation, have left Pakistan and hundreds of others have filed for immigration or are considering seeking asylum.
For the polytheistic Kalasha in Chitral, the future looks bleak. Having lived for generations in peace, the increase in extremism in the region has left this non-Muslim community extremely vulnerable to poverty, threats and forced conversions. The government has declared the Kalash Valley a security risk for foreign and domestic tourists, depriving them of income. And on the other side of the border, the valley sits next to Nooristan, a province in Afghanistan considered to be a stronghold of both local and foreign militants, leaving the Kalasha between a rock and a hard place—to say the least.
Silent State
When communities are left unprotected by the state, criminal opportunists come running to exploit the situation. One example of this are the Sikhs in Peshawar. Aside from being killed, Sikhs have made scores of complaints about being robbed. As minorities, they have few equal-opportunity employment options and their businesses remain under the threat of being robbed or extortion.
Law and order in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa continues to deteriorate and the ruling party is considered by many as sympathetic to the Taliban while holding the United States and the federal government responsible for the violence. The PTI is said to consider “talibanisation in Pakistan a reaction to US policies.”
Ahmadis had already been declared non-Muslims by the state and are harassed wherever they live, work, worship or are buried. But now the Talibanisation of society has also put the lives of those people at risk who adhere to various schools of Islamic thought such as Shias or Barelvis.
Harassment and murder on grounds of religion is furthered along the lines of sectarianism and no one—but a handful—is safe.
However, the government may try to justify the state of affairs, political and religious parties have failed to take legislative or executive steps to safeguard the rights of non-Muslims. A few parties might publically declare their secular political approach and are also at risk, making everyone who matters incapable of implementing any safeguards for adherents of other faiths.
Almost all articles of the Constitution which pertain to human rights give similar protection to non-Muslims but the government’s priorities remain misplaced and ineffective in this respect.
Implementation of such constitutional obligations could easily counter the growing sense of insecurity and deprivation among non-Muslims. No one can deny that Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Kalasha and others are not only patriotic but are citizens of this country by birth right.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2014.
COMMENTS (17)
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@ani. I appreciate your truthful comments. Yes, India has no magic wand, neither has Pakistan,but people here are essentially indoctrinated, brainwashed, severely and do not realize this affliction, politicians side with these zealots because of their command over the masses thru sermons, speeches, which further promotes divisions, and so there is no end to this, state of affairs. We do not have brave politicians who have the courage to stand up for the minorities. Look what happened to Salman Taseer and many many others, this is the sad state of affairs in Pakistan. There is a need to realize this and make sure that forced conversions, forced marriages, killings, etc are not crimes that can and should be overlooked.
All Hindus and Sikhs should just migrate to India. All Indians will accept them with open arms. Indian government should make all efforts to rehabilitate these people.
Curse of kidnapped and converted girls and persecuted non Muslims is what is burning Pakistan today. Time to stop and look back before this fire swallows the country. Childern of a non willing Muslim ( the one forced converted) can never be peaceful l citizens. They will carry the feeling of revenge always.
If we do the same to them in India as they do to us in pakistan, we will have peace.
We need to rewind and go back to Jinnah's pakistan, not the mullahs
I want my non Muslim brothers / compatriots to know Pakistanis will fight for your rights, and against any form of discrimination against you.
You are a great asset to this nation.
It is so tragic.
@raw is war: @abdulraufakhtar:
What @abdulraufakhtar says are facts. However, he has not analyzed the reasons. It is not the objective resolution or Bhutto or mullas. Objective resolution could not have been passed had it not had the support of the population. Irrespective of what is claimed, muslims are the most intolerant anywhere in the world, not just to others but to themselves also. It is always conversions or killings. The "somewhat tolerant" ones start to preach others to convert and the rest force it on others. Why do you want others to covert, in the first place? It is because you are intolerant and hate others and not that you love your religion or wish good for others. All muslims in Pakistan know that all conversions of hindu and christian girls were done by rape. This is the reason no one has ever commented on my comments when I asked why muslims are not demanding to find out the entire truth of past conversions, at least a few of such incidences. I specifically asked to find out the facts on the present whereabouts and marital status of at least a few of the hundreds of thousands of hindu and christian girls who have been kidnaped from their homes, taken to the home of a muslim family, raped there and covered up by marriage to a muslim. All these girls vanish in a few months as they are sold off to brothels. Every muslim knows this. Shias know, Sunnis know and the muslim woman also know. Muslims in other countries also know. I have asked for the very simple and easiest thing to do to find out the facts. Yet none of the above, I have mentioned will comment on this. They know they are lying and will claim that others are just trying to malign them.
on the claims of @abdulraufakhtar that muslims lost more than non-muslims: It is true that muslims have lost more than non-muslims. They have lost their religion itself. US freed Libya and Iraq from their dictators. What happened afterwards in those countries. Muslims themselves started to kill muslims there. Why did it happen? It is because muslims cannot tolerate other muslims themselves. They cannot accept even slight differences. When they are not controlled by ruthless dictators, they start to kill anyone and everyone, including their own. Muslims have not realized that their insanity, madness and urge to convert all others is the sole cause that has led them to killing their own.
I would end my comment with one question. Is there one muslim, in Pakistan or anywhere in the world who is truthful to the teachings of the religion and bold enough to support my demands and ask for the probe of past conversions in Pakistan, just for themselves to find out the truth with factual records, not just make wild claims? I don't think so. Prove me wrong.
The government should encourage inter religious and inter racial marriages. this is one sure shot way ( albeit long and lengthy ) way of reducing race based hate crimes.
The minorities should have more representation in the parliament on both sides of the border of the subcontinent.
@abdulraufakhtar:
people like you are the reason Pakistan is going to dogs.
@abdulraufakhtar: if out of 100 muslims 20 lose their lives and out of 40 non muslims 15 lose their lives it does not mean muslims lost more then non muslims. It is just wrong to simply call it propaganda without giving out solid facts. However I do agree that this article was a bit biased. Agreed that non muslims are targeted but in places like Sindh it is not a hate crime, it is due to the over all deteriorating law and order situation which makes Hindus a soft target as they are generally traders with lots of money and little security. If you look at bureaucracy alot of non muslims have reached higher posts hence discrimination is not there, if Pakistan improves its law and order generally conditions for all regardless of religion will improve.
Very true. I personally know 20 families who have been forced out through direct or indirect threats. Strangely they are filled more with sadness about leaving their country than with anger at their mad country. Pakistan has been consistently losing its way since the objectives resolution. At least if the country was economically thriving or safe for its majority population, then it would have something to show for its religious hard line policies. In the absence of any success which applies to its 200mill population (not selected few subgroup ) it is a sad state (both meanings of state). I wish you good luck.
@abdulraufakhtar: Saying that this is mere propaganda to malign the image of Pakistan is not sufficient do you know the percentage of Sikhs and Hindus population in 1947 and now compare and the reality will be before you. If you are true Muslim dare to face the truth. The population of Muslims in India has increased many fold only because they can not be discriminated only because the are Muslims the constitution never permit this being a secular state.
@abdulraufakhtar Wake up! Before it is to late. The killing of muslim by muslim compatriots is very high. Take for example, Karachi. The daily killings in Karachi has not stopped. The extortionists keep on harassing peaceful traders. When YOU will be affected then only will you realise the situation.
Just rubbish and propaganda muslims lost more than non muslims and it is also acknowledged that, non muslims are targeted deliberately to malign Pakistan .