Pakistan determined to protect rights of religious minorities: FO

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Thursday said Pakistan was fully determined to protect and promote the constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedom of the individuals belonging to religious minorities.

In a statement, she said that as a country of law and constitution, Pakistan could not accept the intolerant and violent acts of Wednesday’s incident in Faisalabad.

The prime minister of Pakistan has strongly condemned the reprehensible incident that took place in Faisalabad on Wednesday where churches were targeted and that hurt the sentiments of Christians across the country, she said.

She said these acts are illegal and unconstitutional.

“Our law enforcement authorities took swift action yesterday. They have been instructed by the Prime Minister to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice,” she added.

The FO spokesperson said as a multicultural and multi-faith country, Pakistan was fully determined to protect and promote their constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedom and to foster social harmony, tolerance and mutual respect, the official news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz on Thursday vehemently denounced the recent incidents that unfolded in Jaranwala, highlighting the disconnect between such actions and the core principles of religion, national laws, and societal norms.

He, in a statement, asserted that the occurrences in Jaranwala stood in stark contradiction to the teachings of Islam, which espoused reverence for places of worship and religious symbols across all faiths.

“Our religion and our nation’s laws are rooted in respect, tolerance, and coexistence,” stated Dr Ayaz, adding, “Acts of violence, targeting individuals based on their beliefs, or attempting to take matters into one’s own hands due to alleged acts of religious blasphemy find no endorsement within Islam,” he added.

The chairman emphasised that legal recourse should be pursued without bias or discrimination against any individuals involved in fomenting animosity and hatred. “No matter the motivations, we are bound by our faith and our Constitution to ensure that justice prevails. Those responsible for promoting discord and hatred must be held accountable under the full extent of the law,” he added.

Furthermore, Dr Ayaz urged the government to take immediate and comprehensive measures to rehabilitate the affected homes and places of worship.

He stressed that compensation should be extended to individuals who had suffered losses to their private properties as a result of these distressing incidents.

In a noteworthy development, the Council of Islamic Ideology, during its special session (Session Number 226) convened on December 20, 2021, addressed the Sialkot incident and presented a set of recommendations to the government.

The council asserted that to deter the occurrence of such heinous events, stringent punitive measures need to be implemented against the perpetrators involved.

The council’s recommendations included the establishment of specialised courts dedicated to expeditiously handling cases related to such incidents.

These courts, as proposed, would operate around the clock, ensuring prompt and fair trials.

The objective is to deliver tangible and appropriate penalties to those responsible for inciting criminal activities, orchestrating such actions, and utilising places of worship to propagate divisive ideologies.

Former Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman also denounced the Jaranwala incident in the strongest terms and called for a thorough and impartial investigation to ensure accountability and justice into the matter.

Speaking out against biased or one-sided positions, he, in a statement, emphasised the importance of upholding the law without favouritism.

“The responsibility of safeguarding the lives, property, and honour of every citizen, regardless of their background, rests with the state,” said the Mufti, who is also the president of Tanzeem-ul-Madaris and Darul Uloom Naeemia, Karachi.

He reiterated that the Constitution of Pakistan guaranteed the protection of all citizens, including minorities such as Christians, and their places of worship.

He further said, “Although we unequivocally denounce the harm inflicted upon the churches and residences of Christians, we also assert the necessity to elucidate that the motives behind this occurrence must be revealed, including the identities of those who defiled the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).

Furthermore, it is imperative to ascertain the instigator behind these actions and determine whether a distinct plan and conspiracy were orchestrated.

He asserted that the demand for accountability required swift and decisive action against individuals involved in incidents of sacrilege.

He stressed the importance of preventing public sentiment from escalating by promptly addressing such matters within the framework of the law.

Notably, Mufti Muneeb cautioned against allowing traditional approaches and procrastination to prevail in addressing such incidents as this could lead to public frustration, potentially giving rise to vigilantism and the infiltration of anti-social elements.

Furthermore, he acknowledged that these incidents not only harm innocent individuals but also provide fodder for Pakistan’s adversaries to propagate against the nation and its religion.

He urged that the personnel of the administration also be subject to scrutiny, as their actions or inactions could have far-reaching consequences.

Mufti Muneeb highlighted the need for a peaceful and tranquil environment in the country and called upon all stakeholders to work towards the common goal and ensure that actions taken in the present moment contribute positively to the nation’s well-being.