August 11, 2024, is being observed as Minority Day, coinciding with the triumphant return of Arshad Nadeem early this morning in Lahore, where he was greeted by a rousing crowd showering him with rose petals. The President has announced that he will be awarded the highest civilian honor, the Hilal-e-Imtiaz.
I am ashamed of the hypocrisy of our politicians. Despite minorities being the backbone of the country’s economy, they continue to face severe persecution and neglect. Yet, we have the audacity to cover up our ugly faces with lies.
This is what President Asif Ali Zardari said: Pakistan is committed to ensuring the protection of the religious, social, political, and economic rights of its minorities. In a message for Minority Day, he said, Pakistan celebrates Minority Day on August 11 every year to acknowledge the contributions of our minorities towards Pakistan’s socio-economic development.
On this day, we reaffirm our commitment to the promise made by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah on August 11, 1947, to protect the rights and religious freedoms of the country’s minorities.
Minorities in Pakistan enjoy all the political, economic, and social rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan, he continued. He also noted that Islam fully recognizes and advocates the protection of minority rights, adding that he was glad to say that Pakistan has taken a number of steps for the political, social, and economic empowerment of minorities.
President Zardari added, We have allocated a five percent quota for minorities in government jobs and separate seats in both houses of Parliament to encourage them to play an effective role in the political and national development of the country. Additionally, steps are being taken to provide financial assistance to poor and deserving individuals, marriage grants, scholarships to students from minority communities for their education, and funds for the repair/maintenance of their places of worship.
He emphasized that every Pakistani has the right to live according to their faith, irrespective of their religion, caste, color, or creed. The President urged all segments of society, including religious scholars, representatives of minorities, and the media, to educate people about their rights and work to promote interfaith harmony, the spirit of love, tolerance, brotherhood, and unity, to make Pakistan a strong country.
He assured all minorities that the government would make every effort to safeguard their rights and provide them with equal opportunities to excel in life.
I am confident that the minorities of Pakistan will continue to play their positive role in the country’s development. I congratulate them on this special day and wish them all the best in their future endeavors, he concluded. Whoever drafted this message used every conceivable word to deceive when none align with the harsh discrimination that minorities face.
I wonder whether the achievements of these four Christian daughters are being celebrated on par with Arshad Nadeem, upon whom both money, rose petals, and praises are being showered from across the country. These Christian daughters of Pakistan won 15 gold medals in the Asian Pacific African Combined Powerlifting Championship. What a shame. Long Live Pakistan, Where Hypocrisy Rules. 🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰