Before the arrival of Islam in
the subcontinent, nations living there like Christians, Buddhists and Hindus
were living peacefully, then came the robbers and thugs like Mohammad Bin
Qasim, Mehmood Ghaznavi and others from Afghanistan and Middle East, who disturbed
those peaceful people and demolished and ruined their worship places. Pakistani
Muslims of today still read those awful deeds of their ancestors with fun and
tell these stories to children proudly and now have named their nuclear missiles
on the names of these terrorists and thugs. Then came the British, who ruled
this region for many years, Muslims of that time raised their voice for two
nation theory and describing it as that they have different dresses and
different religion from Hindus. But the Christians of this region have been
facing discrimination since the arrival of Muslims in this continent because
the real enemy of Christians are Muslims not Hindus since the arrival of Islam.
Their history is full of killing Christians and Jews when Islam spreaded. When Muslims arrived in subcontinent, they
followed the same path of their ancestors and targeted Christians of the
region. Muslims are targeting Christians all over the world whether they are in
a Muslim country or a non-Muslim country. Where Islam is dominant (as in the
Middle East and Pakistan) religious minorities suffer brutal persecution with
little resistance. Where Islam is in the minority (as in Thailand, the
Philippines and Europe) there is the threat of violence if Muslim demands are
not met. Either situation seems to
provide a justification for religious terrorism, which is persistent and
endemic to Islamic fundamentalism.
Pakistani Christians are very
peaceful nation and they waited for 67 years for their right of free speech and
freedom to practice their religion but they are never allowed to do so in
Pakistan. Two Nation theory applies here because Christians have everything
different with Muslims. Christians, Jews and Muslims are called Abrahamic
religions but Muslims created the difference by calling God, Allah and it is
forbidden for many non-Muslims in Muslims countries to call Allah as their God.
This is the biggest difference they have created. Muslims only had differences
of dress and religion with the Hindus but Christians have difference of
religion, culture, language, customs, dresses and everything with the Muslims.
According to our Christian faith, Jesus Christ is the son of God, Christianity
is based on it, and we believe that God gave all His powers to Jesus Christ,
this is our faith and after Jesus Christ no prophet is required. We have been
hearing that Islam spread through sword, and it is still happening in Pakistan,
I have witnessed what they do to Christians of Pakistan, Christians are
forcefully made to accept the Muslim Prophet as their last prophet, they are
forced to renounce their religion and faith and practice the Christianity
according to Islam. We are forced to accept Prophet Mohammad as our last
prophet and our Christian girls are forced to cover their heads during the
recitation of Quranic verses and Azan in every part of Pakistan. During these
67 years, Christians of Pakistan have faced the worst examples of discrimination.
It is now time that Christians should rise against this discrimination because
it is unbearable when we see our Christian girls and women being raped and
kidnapped and when the judge gives the decision in favour of the rapist and
kidnappers by keeping discrimination and prejudice in his mind. In blasphemy
cases, one can experience the worst example of discrimination and torture in
prison during this case. I, myself have been the victim of this discriminatory
law and experienced and eye witnessed worst form of torture that is impossible
for me to explain. The First Information Report (FIR) of a blasphemy case can
be lodged on oral statement and no official investigate the case before lodging
the FIR. It is required that the plaintiff should be a Muslim and the officials
trust him blindly, the accused is than brought in front of the plaintiff and
clerics by the police officers and they torture him in front of his plaintiffs
and others. The lawyers boycott the accused and no one takes his/her case and leaves
the accused alone. It is essential that the judge who is dealing the blasphemy
case should be a Muslim and when the accused is produced before the court, the
first question of the judge is “Why did you do it” no one asks him if he really
does it? In the result, the victim losses his family, house, relatives, respect
and friends and during or before the trail he gets killed by the police or
inmates. Same is in the education system; the teachers are discriminative
towards the Christian students. From the very first day of school, Christian
child starts to hear that Christianity is a false religion and that they should
accept Islam if they want to go to Heaven. Christians never get any key post in
police and district management.
Now let’s talk about Politicians
of Pakistan, we all know about Fazal ur Rehman who recruited many Talibans. Chairman
of Council of Islamic Ideology (Islami Nazriati Council) is Maulana Sharani of
JUI (F) (Jamiat Ullema Islam – Fazal ur Rehman), the same maulana who criticised
a Christian MNA (Member of National Assembly) Tariq.C.Qaiser, who recited “in
the name Our Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” in National Assembly though
Tariq C Qaiser was reciting it as his own faith. After that they tormented and harassed
him that much that he had to flee the country. Politicians like Imran Khan and
Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman talks against Christianity bravely and proudly without
any hesitation and give statements in favour of Talibans. When any terrorist
attack or a blast occurs in Christian enclaves or Church we hear only one
statement from President to MNAs (Member of National Assembly) that no Muslim
can do this it is an act of enemies of Islam. Same is with print and electronic
media of Pakistan; they keep disgracing Christianity and spread false news and
hateful material about Christianity.
In the end I would like to say
that Christians have not arrived in this region from USA or Europe they are the
indigenous people of this region, but Muslims of Pakistan proudly tells about
their ancestors as Sherazi from Sheraz, Bukhari from Bukhara, Qureshi from the
Quresh tribe of Arab and etc. We the Christians of Pakistan are keeping our
eyes on the international community and organisations like United Nations and
Commonwealth to promote us because no one is helping us. Real Two Nation theory
applies here in Pakistan, we want our separate homeland where we will be able
to preach and practice our religion freely and openly. My article should not be
made as a base of a separate homeland for Muslims living in USA or Europe because
they have in migrated here from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and other Muslim
countries but we are the indigenous people of subcontinent and we have the
right to demand for our own homeland but Muslims of USA and Europe doesn’t.
Also Muslims in Europe and USA are enjoying freedom and equal rights but on the
other hand Christians of Pakistan are suffering torture, discrimination and
extinction. It is our right for a separate Christian homeland in Pakistan.
Hector Aleem
Chairman
Peace Worldwide