Non-Muslim minorities part of national fabric & integral to development: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri

In his special message on the National Day of Minorities celebrated on August 11, 2015, PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has said that non-Muslims are part of our national fabric. He said that they have equal rights, adding that establishment of a prosperous and peace-loving society is impossible without their contributions and role. He said that Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) is the only political party, which has moved a petition in the Lahore High Court against the Punjab Government’s Local Government Ordinance 2015 with a view to getting the constitutional right of direct vote for the non-Muslims keeping in view the historical importance of August 11.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said in his message that the Quaid-e-Azam said in his path-breaking speech to the first session of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan that there would be “no discrimination between one community and another”, adding that the founder of Pakistan derived this concept from the Holy Quran and Hadith. He said that the Holy Quran forbade coercion when it ordained, “For you is your religion and for me is my religion.” He said that the Holy Prophet (SAW) warned that if anyone usurped the right of a non-Muslim or took anything from him without his will, he (SAW) would plead his case on non-Muslim citizen’s behalf on the Day of Judgment.

The PAT Chairman said that Articles 4, 9, 14, 15, 16 and 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan guarantee conferment of equal rights on all citizens on the basis of equality. He said that the rights of the minorities are invariably violated at the behest of the governments with a political context. He said that the PAT considers the non-Muslims as equal citizens of the country in the light of the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunna, the Constitution of Pakistan and the Quaid-e-Azam’s speech of August 11, 1947 and holds their services and contributions during the freedom struggle and in development of the country in the highest esteem. He said that the PAT has always adopted a clear and manifest stance on the excesses committed against the minorities devoid of any ambiguity and sided with them during these times.

Dr Qadri said that it is regrettable that it is during the incumbency of the PML-N in power that social, political, economic disparities and religious extremism increased and the minorities were subjected to treatment in violation of the Constitution in particular. He said that in all the tragedies that surfaced during the tenures of the PML-N such as Kot Radha Kishan tragedy, Sambrial tragedy, and Joseph Colony tragedy etc., the role of the office holders of the ruling party, its members of Parliament and the tout police was found to be clearly discernible and to top it all, none of the masterminds of these incidents was punished for his crime. He said that it is again during the tenure of the PML-N that the properties of the Missions were snatched and their precious lands were occupied. So much so that they were deprived of their constitutionally guaranteed right to direct vote through issuance of an Ordinance in this month of August, the month of freedom.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri assured the non-Muslim citizens that they should not worry as they have unstinted support of the PAT. He said that we would not rest till we get justice and rights for the minorities in the light of the Quaid-e-Azam’s vision and the spirit of the Constitution. He said that we would get those lands and properties vacated which have illegally been occupied. He said that the PAT is of the considered opinion that without active role and contributions of the non-Muslims, Pakistan cannot be made to join the ranks of the developed and prosperous countries.