NOVANEWS
By Sajjad Shaukat
Every year, on August 11, Pakistan officially celebrates the National Minorities Day to honour
the services and sacrifices, rendered by religious minorities for the country over the years.
This very day also recognizes the contribution and sacrifices of minorities in creation of Pakistan
On this occasion, events, seminars and social gatherings are arranged across the country by
members of various religious minorities and the ministry of National Harmony.
It may be recalled that during the PPP government, August 11 was official declared National
Minorities Day by the former President Asif Ali Zardari in 2009 in line with the historic speech
of founder of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah at the Constituent Assembly on
August 11, 1947. In his speech, Quaid-e-Azam said, “You are free; you are free to go to your
temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this state of
Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the
In the same speech, Quaid-e-Azam said, “We are starting in the days where there is no
discrimination, no distinction between one community and another, no discrimination between
ones caste or creed and another. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all
citizens, and equal citizens of one state.”
It is mentionable that in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam, the Constitution of 1973
protects the real rights and interest of minorities, living in Pakistan.
Last year, Shahid Mairaj, the Dean of the Cathedral stated in his message, on August 11, “The
governing principle is to let people of every faith live in peace as they choose, and understand
that the state belongs to everyone. This country is our mother, and it is a duty for all of us to help
it to advance and flourish.”
In this regard, Member Punjab Assembly and minorities’ leader Najmi Saleem remarked,
“Minorities in Pakistan have exactly the same rights and responsibilities as other citizens”.
Minister Incharge for National Harmony Dr. Paul Bhatti said, “The Minorities Day provides us
an opportunity to renew the pledge for the promotion of tolerance and interfaith harmony as in a
pluralistic society, there can always be a divergence of opinion on a number of issues, but these
differences can be solved through interfaith harmony which means a cooperative and positive
interaction between people of different religions, traditions, faiths, and spiritual or humanistic
He acknowledged by pointing out, “Many steps have been taken by the Government for the
protection and promotion of minorities like the reservation of 5 percent quota in Government
jobs/services, enhancement representation in the parliament, declaration of August 11 as the
Minorities Day, including observance of optional holidays and celebration of the festivals of
minorities at official level”.
A Sikh leader, Sardar Bishan Singh shared similar thoughts and pointed out that all citizens of
Pakistan worked together for the growth of the country.
It is notable that the Ministry of National Harmony was formed after the devolution of Ministry
of Minority Affairs to acknowledge the sacrifices and services of minorities to promote peace,
patience and tolerance for creating an understanding and brotherhood among the people of
different schools of thought.
However, since the formation of Pakistan, minorities are contributing in every sphere of life and
their political involvement is also worth appreciating. Therefore, the day is dedicated to the
minorities who played their constructive role in Pakistan.
But, it is regrettable that in the recent years, with the support of anti-Pakistan groups like
Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), Jundullah and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) including
their affiliated outfits, Indian secret agency RAW which has well-established its network in
Afghanistan arranged a number of terror-attacks on Ahmadis, Christians and Sikhs in order to
distort the image of Pakistan abroad.
In this connection, some terror-events might be cited as instance. In May, 2009, Indian backed
militants had forcibly taken over the shops and homes of the 35 Sikh families in the Orakzai
Agency in Pakistan. On May 28, 2011 armed assaults on two Ahmadi mosques in Lahore killed
more than 70 people. More than 80 people died and 150 injured when two suicide attackers
struck the All Saints Church in Peshawar on September 22, 2013. On March 17, 2015, at least 15
people were killed and more than 70 injured when two Taliban suicide bombers attacked
churches in Lahore. Indian supported TTP claimed responsibility for these attacks. In this
context, investigations showed that RAW was behind these subversive acts. In fact, besides other
terror attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, Balochistan and Karachi, assaults on religious
communities are part of the Indian scheme to create chaotic situation in Pakistan, because it is
the only nuclear country in the Islamic World.
While, India which claims an arch secular state has surprised the world because of continued
attacks on other minority groups, especially Christians, Muslims and Sikhs—and events of
forced conversion of Christians and Muslims into Hindus.
Unlike India, where religious minorities are being targeted by the Hindu fundamentalist outfits
like the ruling party BJP, RSS, Shiv Sena etc., all the minorities such as Christians, Ahmadis,
Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis and Budahists enjoy fundamental rights in Pakistan, including all other
rights of citizenry in Pakistan.
Nevertheless, Pakistan which came into existence on the basis of Islamic principles to provide
respect and protection to all the segments of society is giving full safety to all the minorities as
mentioned in the Constitution. Besides other minority groups, particularly Christians are not only
serving in the armed forces, but are also working in other departments. Without any
discrimination by the Muslims, they also run their own business and are working in private
Nonetheless, the National Minorities Day not only expresses gratitude for the contributions,
made by these religious communities, but also professes that future development of Pakistan
hinges crucially on their efforts.
