Awful news from Pakistan, yet again about the way minorities are treated in the country. It is alleged that during a wedding ceremony last Thursday, pages of Quran were desecrated, and this news was enough to trigger unbelievable attacks against Christians in Gojra, Punjab. No one knows who desecrated the Holly Quran and why, but the ensuing violence claimed six lives and millions in revenue, property destruction and businesses destroyed.
Minorities in Pakistan were never treated fairly, let’s be honest about it. However, it is becoming more common that people across the country, driven by religious insanity look for opportunities to create chaos and mayhem whenever there is a rumor that someone (usually a non Muslim) has either said anything negative or insulting about Islam, or has been disrespectful towards the Holly Quran and this is enough to bring thousands of hysterical men on the streets looking for non-Muslims (Christians, Hindus or anyone who has not agreed to conform to a certain way of thinking) for religious revenge.
Personally, I have never seen any non-Muslim in Pakistan say anything negative, let alone derogatory towards Islam. On the contrary, I have always felt that non-Muslims in Pakistan try their best to avoid discussing anything remotely associated with religion and they never ever discuss Islam in Particular, except praising it. I am not suggesting that people always agree with everything Islam, but I can report confidently when I say that generally, I cannot imagine anyone uttering anything disrespectful about Islam given Pakistan’s highly charged religious environment. So, because of this neutral behavior by minorities, it is somewhat surprising to see people being accused of ‘insulting’ Islam from time to time in Pakistan.
Examining the situation from a different angle, it has been said that people settle personal scores using religion in Pakistan because Muslims are a majority group in the country. Therefore, it is not unlikely that this latest wave of senseless violence was started by those who either wanted to settle a personal dispute, or there is something else at work. Whatever the case, it has been shocking to see what went on in Gojra, Punjab for at least two days.
Religion and nationalism are very potent forces that can drive people towards insanity in an instant and it is the job of the political and religious leaders to keep an eye on raw emotions in the country. Everyone should work hard to make sure that men don’t come out on the streets protesting because that is where the situation can get out of control. If elected leaders keep close contact with constituents, it is very unlikely that Gojra type incidents will occur because enraged or upset people can call their representatives and the situation can, and it should be defused. Pakistan, a country already struggling on so many fronts needs a helping hand from every Pakistani and this communal violence is an opportunity for Pakistanis to come together and strengthen the country to overcome religious and ethnic divide in the country for a better, secure and peaceful Pakistan.
