Adil Najam
Christmas greetings to all our Christian readers in Pakistan and elsewhere. On this auspicious day, we at ATP pray for peace and goodwill to all. Last year our Christmas post had carried the picture on the right below. This year we thought that the one of a Pakistani Santa riding a camel would make a good compliment (thanks to Islamabad Metroblog).
Last year we had also done a pictorial on Churches in Pakistan and I hope that our readers might revisit that post. It remains one of my all-time favorite posts on ATP and a particularly apt one to visit today.
More than just the architectural heritage that these living churches represent, they should be a reminder to all of us Pakistani Muslims that to speak about Pakistan (as we so often do) as if all Pakistanis are Muslims is not just factually incorrect it is insulting and alienating to those Pakistanis who are not.Pakistan belongs to all Pakistanis. Equally. Today, December 25, seems like a good day to remind ourselves of this. Not only because it is Christmas for our Pakistani Christian compatriots but also because it makers the birth anniversary of Pakistan’s founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah (more on him later today). For Jinnah, as is clear from his famous August 11 speech, Pakistan is a Pakistan for all Pakistanis. Equally.
Dear YLH, You ideas are very good and even I thaught about them but I am afraid that after so many years it would be very difficult to repal so many laws and implement them right away. We need to go by implementing laws one by one gradually. Anyways as for you formulae for distribution of seats I think that it is unjust towards the Hindus who are the largest minority of the country (as per 1998 census). As per the 1998 census, following were the figures for the religions:
Islam 96.28%
Hinduism 1.85% (caste 1.6% & scheduled castes 0.25%)
Chiristianity 1.59%
Ahmaddiya 0.21%
Others (Sikhs, Parsis, Kalash, Buddhists etc) 0.07%
Thus representation of seats should be as follows:
Caste hindus 11
Christians 11
Scheduled caste 2
Ahmadis 2
Sikhs 1
Parsis 1
Buddhists 1
Kalash & others 1
Senate should also have similar distribution of seats
Job quotas should be at 10% (compared to 3.72% non muslim population) which is more reasonable.
Minorities’ demands
1. Incorporation of Quaid-e-Azam Mahomed Ali Jinnah’s 11th August speech in the constitution as Article 2-B.
2. Repeal of all discriminatory legislation against minorities in general and section 298 of the Pakistan Penal Code in particular which is contrary to basic principles of modern statehood as well as Islamic ideals of equality.
3. Repeal of the un-Islamic capital punishment provision of blasphemy law which is contrary to the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)- who forgave his worst enemies and critics. If this is not possible then extension of the death penalty provision to blasphemy against the founders of every religion.
4. Joint Electorate should continue as at present as we deem the system of joint electorate essential to safeguard the interests of the minorities . However, the reserved minorities’ seats in the national assembly should be increased from 10 to 30 according to the following formula:
a- 12 Seats for the Christian community
b- 4 Seats for Caste Hindu community
c- 4 Seats for Scheduled Caste community
d- 4 Seats for Ahmaddiya community
e- 3 Seats for the Sikh community
f- 1 Seat for the Buddhists
g- 1 Seat for the atheists/non-religious/agnostics
h- 1 Seat for Parsi community
These seats should constitute independent caucuses and any legislation pertaining to any community should have to be passed by a majority of the representatives of that community’s caucus.
The current system of list representation for these seats should be abandoned. Instead these representatives should be directly elected from their respective communities which each community forming a single Pakistan constituency.
5. A similar formula of seat allocation and election should be followed in each federating unit of Pakistan.
6. 16 reserved senate seats should be allocated for the minorities with the following formula:
a- 6 seats for the Christian community
b. 2 seats for caste Hindu community
c. 2 seats for scheduled caste community
d. 2 seats for the ahmadiyya community
e. 1 seat for the Sikh community
f. 1 seat for the Buddhist communtiy
g. 1 seat for the atheists/agnostics/non-religious
h. 1 seat for the Parsi community.
All these seats are additional to joint electorate. All minorities should have the right to contest on general seats.
7. Removal of all bars against minorities from becoming president and prime minister of Pakistan.
8. Atleast 4 Guaranteed cabinet posts to be filled by the minorities at the center, one of which is either interior or law.
9. A 15% quota for minorities in all government jobs, educational institutes and other such institutions including the armed forces according to the formula below:
6% for the Christian community
2% for the Caste Hindu community
2% for the Scheduled Caste community
2% for the Ahmaddiya community
3% for miscellaneous
10. Repeal of special privilege to Hufaz-e-Quran in form of 20 marks in merit in the local edcuational stream or similar privilege for those minorities excelling in the learning of their scriptures respectively.
I have been exploring your site and it is a great treasure. Humanity transcends borders and religions. May all live in Peace.
Merry Christmas all. May we Pakistanis learn to live in peace together and learn to appreciate our religious, ethnic and linguistic differences.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.
The pictures here are all excellent.
Thank you.
Most Churches in Pakistan, but not all, have an adjunct school facility and as such serve the larger community beyond worship needs. Many of them offer up to secondary education, both of Matriculation and O Levels. Generally, they are single gender schools though some offer coed up to middle school. If I am right, only Cathedral High School (my former school) in Lahore, offered coed all thorough the secondary education.
Besides providing decent education, these schools also served as a bridge between Muslim and Christian communities. As young children, we participated in tableaus for Christmas and Easter. The only period when we went separate ways was religious studies and that included some Parsi students. Personally, I found the experience enriching and it helped me for a more global, integrated and accepting world. I learned to appreciate the similarities as well as the differences of my faith with that of others.
This post has brought a rush of memories past and pleasant. First the banner card of Government College Lahore, (I am a Ravian) and then the tower of Cathedral High School in the collage of churches was also refreshing.
Pakistan stands as perhaps the only country in the world with the national flag demarcated specifically with color white for minorities within its realm. It should serve as a constant reminder of acceptance and accommodation with differing views. That ultimately, is the view of the Creator.