The hypocrisy of Pakistan’s leaders The Statesman 02 Apr 19
The hypocrisy of Pakistan’s leaders 02 Apr 19
Post the attack on the Mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, their Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, adopted the ideal approach to condone the mindless killings. She interacted with families of victims wearing a Hijab and announced that instead of the name of the attacker, names of the victims would henceforth be mentioned. Her action won her praise from across the globe, especially Pakistan.
The Pak foreign office spokesperson stated, ‘She has won the hearts of Pakistanis for her compassion and for her leadership.’ Their President, Arif Alvi stated, ‘I thank PM of New Zealand for the strong compassion she has shown in the face of terrorist killing of 50 Muslims in the mosques in Christchurch.’ As per Pakistan newspapers, Prime Minister Imran Khan called Jacinda Arden and expressed his admiration for the humane way in which she handled the Christchurch attack.
The Pak foreign minister, Qureshi, on the other hand criticised the Indian Prime Minister on his condolences to New Zealand. He stated, ‘“(New Delhi) did not have the courage to use the words ‘Muslim’ or ‘mosque’ in its condemnation of the attack’. He added ‘If, God forbid, there had been an attack on a Hindu temple, Pakistan would have stood with India’. He even attempted to accuse India of targeting minorities in the country, while attending the OIC foreign ministers conference in Turkey.
No Pak leader has ever criticized China for its handling of Uyghur Muslims, despite the world being aware of their incarceration. Imran stated he is unaware and made himself the laughing stock of the world. All because of Chinese aid.
All these comments only add to hypocrisy within the Pak establishment. They have never cared for their minorities, which are brutally targeted in the country. The recent case of two underage Hindu girls being kidnapped, forcibly converted and married invoked no response. The arrest of a few post the incident will only be temporary as videos of their willingness to convert makes the entire incident considered legal in Pak. Imran Khan visited Ghotki, from where the girls were kidnapped over the weekend. He ignored their family indicating that Pak does not care for its minorities.
When Sushma Swaraj raised the issue, the Pak information minister tweeted, ‘Its Pakistan’s internal issue and rest assure its not Modi’s India where minorities are subjugated its Imran Khan’s Naya Pak where white colour of our flag is equally dearer to us. I hope you’ll act with same diligence when it comes to rights of Indian Minorities.’ This is the same Pakistan, which has over the years ignored attacks on its own minorities.
Recounting some incidents involving minorities, which were shunned by Pak’s leaders. In May 2010, two Ahmadi places of worship were targeted, leaving over 90 dead. Not a single politician came forward to meet the bereaved families. One of the attackers was even overpowered by the unarmed worshippers who handed him over to the police, only for him to be set free, without a trial. This was because he had targeted Ahmadis, who are treated as non-Muslims in the country.
Two suicide bombings in Peshawar’s all saints church left over 120 dead in 2013. This was far more than the 50 in Christchurch. There was hardly any criticism at Pak’s national level. No national leader come forth and consoled the families. Imran Khan defended the attack, by stating that this action was the result of US drone strikes. Rather than insisting that the government bring the perpetrators of the crime, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to book, he advocated negotiating with them.
The only time when Pakistan stood together was when the TTP targeted the Army Public School in Peshawar. This was because it was an army institution and there were no minorities which were targeted.
In another recent incident, a married Christian woman and a mother of three was abducted from her house by a sexual predator and raped. The police initially refused to lodge a FIR and recover her, eventually doing so under pressure. She had been raped for ten days. Her medical examination was refused as the testimony given by the rapist was that she had converted to Islam and married him. She now cannot reconvert to Christianity despite everyone knowing that the conversion document was signed under duress.
There is no minority in the country, whether Hindus, Ahmadis, Christians, Shia’s or Hazara who are safe. Pervez Hoodbhoy, a noted Pakistani columnist writes in the Dawn of 23 Mar, ‘Pakistan’s minorities live under the boot of the majority and know they cannot speak the truth.’ As per data released by South Asian terrorism portal, between 2003 and 2016 violent incidents against Shia’s have led to the killing of over 2550, leaving over 4500 injured. In 2015, the UN General Secretary, Ban Ki-moon urged the Pak government to protect its minorities, including Shia Muslims.
No incident against Shia’s has been condemned by Pak leaders. Ravi Shankar wrote in the Indian Express of 16 Sep 18, ‘Being a minority is a death sentence in Pakistan. Not just for a Hindu, Christian or Sikh, but even for a Muslim—an Ahmadi, Ismaili, Bohra or Hazara Shia.’ His words could not be truer.
On the other hand, Pak cries to the world community desiring that Islamophobia be curbed and a definition for terrorism be evolved which includes those who target Mosques. It criticized the Samjhauta judgement, while it never acts against attackers on minorities. How can a nation which treats its minorities as expendable commodities claim that Muslims being targeted across the world is a crime? If nations which respect their minorities state so, it is still acceptable.
When will Pak learn that if it desires international respect and its voice is heard, it must respect its own minorities, not treat them as second-class citizens to be abused by its own majority population. Unless it does so, it can scream to satisfy its own masses but would be ignored as a nation having only hypocrites as its national leaders, who ignore their own minorities.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army