Murder of minority members in Ramzan
PAKISTAN has pluralistic society divided into various communities on the basis of race, colour, language, caste, creed, sect and religion. The ideological foundation of Pakistan is rooted in democratic values where people belong from all religions, castes, races, ethnicities and cultures. The framers of the Constitution have incorporated provisions for the protection of minorities in the multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-ethnic society of Pakistan. The UN General Assembly adopted Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDR), 1948. The very essence of this Declaration is to protect and promote dignity and rights (economic, social, cultural, political and civil) of all human beings across the world without any discrimination. Article 3 of UNDR ensures the right to life, liberty and security of a person.
Likewise, the policy makers of Pakistan also tried their best to incorporate provisions in the Constitutions to protect the rights of the citizens including minorities and non-Muslims. The Part-III of 1956 Constitution deals with the fundamental rights of the citizens. Similarly, the Part-II of 1962 Constitution was consisted of two Chapters – Chapter-I dealt with the fundamental rights of the citizens and Chapter-II dealt with Principles of Policy. Chapter-I gave a detailed account of fundamental rights; however, some basic rights of the citizens including minorities are here highlighted. Article 1 of Chapter-I guarantees the right to life to everyone in the country. The 1973 Constitution was enforced on August 14, 1973. It has undergone various amendments from time to time to meet the requirements of the people of Pakistan. Like previous constitutions, the Part-II of 1973 Constitution deals with the fundamental rights of the citizens and Principles of Policy. Article 9 of 1973 Constitution provides personal security to every citizen of the country.
Diyal Singh (Late) was assassinated by unidentified gunmen in Peshawar on March 31, 2023. He was famous for his generosity in the month of Ramzan for selling daily commodities in his General Store, Dir Colony, Peshawar. It was a goodwill gesture on his part to show respect to the Holy Month of Ramzan and also to assist the needy Muslim fellow-beings in the society to provide daily necessities on cheap rates in the prevailing economic crisis. In May last year, two members of the Sikh community were also shot dead. In addition to this, Dr. Birbal Genani, a philanthropist Ophthalmologist was also targeted and shod dead in Karachi. He belonged to the Hindu community. He was down-to-earth person.
Islam is the religion of peace and tranquillity and discourages sedition in all its manifestations. Islam guarantees the personal security of not only man but also animals and other creatures. Islam strongly condemns the murder of any innocent person in a society. In this regard, The Quran (5:32) says, “That is why We ordained for the Children of Israel that whoever takes a life—unless as a punishment for murder or mischief in the land—it will be as if they killed all of humanity; and whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity.” On another place, the Quran ((6:151) says, “And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed] except by [legal] right. This has He instructed you that you may use reason.” In addition to this, the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) also glorious teachings for the protection of life, dignity and safety of every individual in a society irrespective of any creed, colour, race, religion and culture. The Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The best of people are those who are most beneficial to people.” Likewise, the Prophet said: “The true Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe.”
Such targeted assassination of non-Muslim minority members of Pakistani society in the Holy Month of Ramzan raised several questions:
1. Whether was it an attempt to defame Pakistan as a security state;
2. Whether was it an attempt to de-popularize its security agencies;
3. Whether was it an attempt to defame Pakistan as an unsafe place for religious minorities; and
4. Was it to be the act of any Muslim to target a non-Muslim in the Holy Month of Ramazan;
Certainly such heinous acts, the believer of Islam cannot commit. It can be committed by seditious elements to create rift in the society on religious grounds and to create hatred in hearts and minds of Non-Muslim members of the society towards Muslims. In such activities the foreign agencies’ role cannot be ruled out. In such prevailing circumstances, the political leadership needs to show serious attitude towards the protection of religious minorities in the country so as to counter the nefarious designs of the enemies of Pakistan and its people; and to protect the personal security – the freedom of fear from threats to life, from physical torture, from violence, etc., of its citizens.
—The writer is (Political and Security Analyst), Chairman, Department of Political Science, Islamia College Peshawar.
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