The vandalism of a temple in eastern Punjab by a frenzied mob is highly unfortunate. Notwithstanding, as to what were the causes behind the uproar, such incidents of hate and religious profiling should be condemned. It is a blot on the very essence of our national fabric, and comes to undermine unity, compassion and tolerance. The solace is that the district administration and law-enforcement agencies have come to the rescue of the minority community, and the tragic incident has been censured by the PM and the CJP. The government and the apex court have also ordered restoration of the temple, and bringing the culprits to book.
This incident should again act as an eye-opener for men at the helm. There are certainly some inherent loopholes in sections of our legislation dealing with sensitive religious matters. Thus, it has become a tradition to accuse anyone on religious grounds and then raise the stakes for going against the accused with full vengeance. The state apparatus is at times — for reasons of exigency and appeasement — seen helpless, and the furore takes a toll. In the last two decades, hundreds of people from the minority communities have become a victim of prosecution, and forced violence. This Rahim Yar Khan incident too falls in the same ambit.
Pakistan by all means is a pluralistic society. The Father of the Nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, has called for tolerance and empathy among all sections of society, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. This should act as the bastion for inter-faith harmony, and none should be discriminated against on religious grounds. Pakistanis are generally tolerant and have a big heart in terms of compassion. But there is no dearth of hate-mongers who capitalise on the jaundiced philosophy of otherness. They need to be shunned and discouraged. The way to go is to promote harmony and interaction, and ensure that contested legislations are not invoked for vicious reasons; and no one resorts to violence. Minorities have immensely contributed to nation-building, and are a proud dispensation of our nationhood.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2021.
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