Author: Nazir S Bhatti.
Publication: Pakistan Christian
Post
Date: March 18, 2003
URL: http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/editorialdetails.php?editorialid=64
A Muslim militant group named Jesh
Ahle-i-Alqiblat Al Jihadi Alsari Al Alami based at Peshawar, the capital
city of NWFP, a border province to Afghanistan, distributed a pamphlet
on January 10, 2003 to call on Christians in Pakistan for conversion to
Islam and those who refuse may be killed.
The same pamphlet was circulated
in other major cities, the national newspapers and news agencies in Pakistan.
In the pamphlet it was urged by the Jesh Ahle-i-Alqiblat Al Jihadi Alsari
Al Alami organization that killing of Christians to whom Islam terms as
infidels are liable to death if they refuse to accept Islam. The matter
of the handout further said this killing Jihad, and foremost duty of every
Muslim under Jihad being fifth pillar of Islam. The Pamphlet issued decree
to shot on sight the foreign Christian nationals.
The NWFP (North West Frontier Province)
of Pakistan emerged as main strong hold of religious political parties
when they achieved landslide victory in this province in October 2002,
national general elections under Religious Parties Alliance MMA. The Chief
Minister of NWFP from MMA vowed to implement Sharia Law in the province
on his oath ceremony, which caused fears among the minorities of the NWFP.
The issuance of such a Pamphlet
with religious hate from this Religious Parties Alliance government was
the first sign of fear which put the danger of lives of the other religious
communities in Pakistan because Christians have heard the decrees of Muslim
religious leaders in the Friday mosques sermons before the allied forces
attack on Afghanistan to curb the terrorism ' to kill two Pakistani Christians
if one Muslim Pakistani is killed by the allied forces in Afghanistan".
The Muslim militants approved the decree of their religious leaders by
attacking on churches and killing innocent worshipers. The incidents of
Bahawalpur church killing, Islamabad church massacre, Murree Christian
school firing, Taxila church bombing and lately the Village chianwali church
attack on Christmas can be viewed in that perspective. The daylight brutal
murder of seven Christians of Karachi based charity was also in connection
of that Islamic religious Fathwa.
The MMA led government in NWFP never
paid any attention to lodge any enquiry against the Muslim militant groups
open distribution of this pamphlet nor the federal government agencies
reported any arrest of the responsible of this distribution on such a large
scale hate material when Pakistan Penal Code exists to take action against
such culprits. It seemed as the government officials had their eyes wide
shut on this conspiracy against the second biggest population of their
own state, which feared to lead communal rights and law and order situation
in the country.
Lets see the recent polls by the
PCP on the issue of MMA presence in parliament to escalate Christian persecution
in Pakistan. The large number of readers of PCP participated in this poll
survey for the very first time when 1257 persons voted from which 815 said
that MMA presence can not be dangerous for minorities, 408 said that MMA
is dangerous and 34 voted that they are not fully aware of the situation.
It meant that presence of MMA in parliament couldn't escalate the religious
persecution in Pakistan. We respect the opinion of the viewers but the
distribution of the said hate Pamphlet from the MMA led government province
directs us to believe that Religious Parties Alliance presence in parliament
can be dangerous for Christians at any time in Pakistan.
There are two Christian Members
of National Assembly selected under Joint Electorate by the MMA and one
in NWFP government. Its very surprising that Christians from NWFP and Balouchistan
seek the MMA nomination for the Parliament. They were fully aware about
the MMA Islamic manifesto. The Christians have witnessed and experienced
militants attacks on churches and killing of more than 50 Christian worshipers
in year 2001-2002, was it not enough for those power hungry Christians
to stay away from MMA nominations. If we take their wishes to reach in
parliament on the shoulders of the killers of their brothers by the sister
organizations and camouflaged Muslim militant groups of MMA to play an
active part to press upon the Religious Alliance Leadership for the security
of Christian community then what those Christian parliamentarians in MMA
are doing? We suggest them to resign from their seats and join the hands
of Christian community to adopt the safety and security measures of life
and property. We wish to hear their voice in the house and in MMA that
implementation of Islamic laws on Christian minority is Un Islamic and
unjust. The Blasphemy laws aren't for Christian minority under Islamic
System.
The MMA have started the drums of
war according to the January 10, 2003 Pamphlet from Peshawar by allowing
Jamat E Islami militant commander Hikmat Yar Khan to join Taliban and enter
Afghanistan with 1000 Islamic army to fight the allied forces in Afghanistan.
The fear among Christians in Pakistan is more after this 1000 Taliban and
JI Jihadi group action in Afghanistan when they are very easy prey of these
trained militants.
In this situation we urge Government
of Pakistan to deal with iron hands to the militant groups in Pakistan
and to adopt security of life of Christian religious, social and political
leaders in Pakistan.
