Adil Najam
Ordinarily, I might have just posted this photograph below as a comment on yesterday’s post on Diwali celebrations in Karachi (also here). But please, just look at the people in this photograph; its way too interesting to be relegated to a comments section.
The occasion is a Diwali celebration at the Islamabad Headquarters of the Pakistan Muslim League, standing (and clapping) extreme left is Syed Mushahid Hussain, Secretary General of the Pakistan Muslim League, next to him is Ijaz ul Haq (Minister of Religious Affairs, and son of Gen. Zia ul Haq), fourth from left is Tariq Azim, State Minister for Information.
The Daily Times (31 October, 2006) provides more details of the event:
Members of the Hindu community from across the country participated in the event where they performed their religious rituals and traditional dances in candlelight to mark the event… A number of office bearers of the party and ministers, including PML Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Syed, Minister for Religious Affairs Ijaz-ul-Haq, State Minister for Information Tariq Azim, Minister for Minorities Affairs Mushtaq Victor and members of the National Assembly (MNAs) Bindara, Donia Aziz, Akram Masih Gill and others were present on the occasion. Officials of the Indian High Commission also participated in the event.
Hussain said that Quaid-e-Azam had envisioned a Pakistan where all the religious minorities enjoyed equal rights. He underlined the importance of inter-faith harmony for the greater prosperity of the nation and announced that the PML would also celebrate the birthday of Baba Gurunanak next week. He said that the minorities played a vital role in building any nation. He said that the present government was allocating high importance to giving all minorities’ equal. Hindus are playing a leading role in country’s economic development and the present government will leave no stone unturned to ensure their safety and well being, he added.
This is, of course, a political gesture – some might even say a gimmick. But if so, let us have more such gestures and gimmicks. They will, in time, hopefully help change our perceptions and treatment of religious minorities in Pakistan.
Stupid Attitude for Money and Power they can go any limit this is nothing but at least they have to show their dignity that they are belongs to a Republic of a Islamic country’s ruler group they sot to suppose to make them self a part of Hinduism as Guest they can attend but not to lose the Islamic dignity…ok
Sign the Petition for THE RESTORATION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF AHMADIS
http://www.petitiononline.com/Greywolf/petition.ht ml
Hi neighbours
Very enlighting conversation/s. Thanks.
I too had many pakistani friends when abroad. We are soo similar. I pray to God that we all live in peace as brothers.
Regards,
Vikram, Delhi
hi
i m happy to see a diwali picture from pakistan. that show pakistan is multicultural country where freedom of speech, freedom of worship prevails. from sydney and from western world we see pakistan is a terrorist country.but it is not true. at present world is viewing all muslim as terrorist.
one or two people can be wrong not the whole community. i belong to hindu family from sydney and background is from punjab (india)o.i have so many friends from pakistans.we live together eat together there is no anoymity between us.we live like brothers.
my message to all pakistan i spread the friendship, and people of the world should see wat our culture is .
may god bless u
pankaj khanna
Salamalikum,
This would be, inshaAllah, my last post on this issue because what needed to be said has been said. It’s funny–while I’m providing facts and references in my comments in return I’m only getting baseless accusation without any support like “Atleast don’t unload your own hang ups on that great man” by Greywolf. It’s in your head, Greywolf, that even after looking at my references of Haidth (Sahih Bukhari) and Quran (Al-Ahzaab surah) you think that I’m painting Rasoolullah’s (saw)Sunnah with my ideology. This is a very serious accusation to place on a Muslim. As they say, housh kay nakhun leegiyay!! Allah knows best.