Pakistan Government is unwilling or is unable to control the abuse of law and protect the minorities - PCAF

Lahore: October 27, 2009, (PCTV Newsdesk)

Several incidents in the current year have perturbed the nation where the minority communities were victimized under the false accusation of having desecrated the Holy Quran. Such acts of violence have grown sharply under the pretext of the Blasphemy Law which is blatantly abused to cause harassment and marginalization of religious minorities, especially the Christians.

The due process of law is often stopped and the law enforcement is at the mercy of the religious zealots. The abuse of the Law is becoming a challenge for the Government and for institutions responsible for the security and safety of the citizens of Pakistan. It seems that either the Government is unwilling or is unable to control the abuse of law and protect the minorities. The life of the falsely accused person is not even safe in the care of the police or the law enforcing agencies. This realization has created a deep sense of insecurity and anxiety amongst the religious minorities, especially the Christians, about their existence in a country for which they have given sacrifices and worked for its development through the fields of education and health care.

PCAF Forum is of the strong opinion that the Federation of Pakistan should operate according to the vision and objectives spelt out by the founders and father of the nation, whereby a clear mention has been made that the business of the state should not and must not operate on the basis of religion.

Creating terror, being violent and causing loss of life and property has become a regular feature in our society, which in no way depicts an image of a developing or a tolerant nation. This has not only led to sectarianism and lack of trust amongst the various communities of Pakistan but has encouraged an accelerated effort of brain drain from the country, for which the PCAF raises concern with the Government of Pakistan, the parliamentarians and the political parties of Pakistan.

• THE PAKISTAN CHRISTIAN ACTION FORUM condemns all administrative acts done under the pressure of religious zealots, to create and initiate fake cases against the already suffering Christians in Kasur, Gojra, Korian and Sialkot. We demand that all such proceedings be dropped with immediate effect throughout the country.
• The PAKISTAN CHRISTIAN ACTION FORUM calls upon the GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN;
• To make all the necessary arrangements to repeal all laws which encourage crime and discrimination, especially the Blasphemy Laws.
• Serious and credible efforts need to made on part of the Government to protect the life and property of religious minorities in the state of Pakistan.  
• FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL PARLIAMENTS to legislate laws prescribing strict punishment for those who violate law and perpetrate injustice. 
• We demand removing all sectarian, faith based and discriminatory material from the educational syllabi being taught to our young children in the schools.
• We appeal to the print and electronic media to provide space involving the minorities for building a strong pluralistic society with democratic values, to ensure peace, justice and tolerance in Pakistan.
• The religious minorities experience inequality and there seems to be a lack of distributive justice, especially in the job market, public sector and the political arenas.

THE PAKISTAN CHRISTIAN ACTION FORUM comprises all Bishops from the Roman Catholic Church in Pakistan, The United Church of Pakistan, Representatives from The National Council of Churches in Pakistan, The Presbyterian Church of Pakistan, The Pentecostal Church in Pakistan and The Salvation Army, Pakistan.