LAHORE – Speakers at a seminar arranged by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on ‘Growth of Intolerance in Pakistan’ on Sunday at its New Garden Town Main Office condemned intolerance of all kinds.
The speakers highlighted the facts responsible for the increase in intolerance in the country. Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and renowned human rights activist Asma Jahangir, Dr Mehdi Hassan, Dr Mubashar Hassan, Dr Haroon, Fehmida Riaz, Khalid Ahmed and others spoke on the occasion. Dr Mehdi Hassan highlighted the past performance of the HRCP while different reports of various departments of the HRCP were also presented.
Asma, addressing the seminar, said that intolerance roots back to the formation of the All India Muslim League when non-Muslims were not allowed to join the party. She said that this rule was abolished only a few years ago, which makes it evident that the nation should be further enlightened on the issue of intolerance.
Recalling the assassination of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, she said that the incident was depressing and the media was responsible for glorifying the incident. The SCBA president said that the irony was the reaction of the nation due to the media. She denounced the negative role of the media saying that most of the prominent media persons residing in Islamabad seek orders from the intelligence agencies.
Asma held them responsible for venerating the issue of Salmaan Taseer. “Not even a squeak was heard from the federal government after sacrificing two high-rankers”, Asma said. She criticised the federal government for not standing up even after loosing a minister and governor to the intolerance. The renowned human rights activist said that such behaviour of the government, after the assassination, implies that this nation has a long way to go in case of intolerance.
Dr Mubashar Hassan held injustice responsible for the growth of intolerance saying it is mainly linked with nationalism. Giving examples, he said that the biggest intolerance was between blacks and whites and intolerance was not due to religion in that case. The former federal minister said that the nation is forced to resort to religion, as it is the only option given to them.
He said that various individuals had surfaced with various ideologies but all of them had failed due to which people get attached with mullahism. Hassan said that a content individual will never side with intolerance, as he will be more satisfied.
Dr Haroon Ahmed, a psychologist, said that being intolerant is a psyche and mental condition, which has nothing to do with any race or ethnicity. He said that intolerance should be rehabilitated to succeed as a nation and no culture and society of the world promotes intolerance.
Khalid Ahmed, highlighting the philosophy of intolerance, said that the major difference in the East and West is that people in the West say that we trust in God and people in the East say that we believe in God. He said that the westerners look into science while searching for answers and our society looks in traditions.
Saba Gul Khattak, spotlighting facts and figures, said that many schools have been destroyed on the basis of intolerance. She said that billions of rupees have been wasted, but the biggest loss suffered as a nation is intangible. Concluding the remarks, Dr Mehdi Hassan said that intolerance started in 1948 when Majlis-e-Ahrar was restored and the Quaid-e-Azam, Liaqat Ali Khan and other dignitary leaders were badly criticised by them.
He said that at time it was said that killing an Ahmedi will result in embracing Heaven but intolerance was stopped by the martial law of 1953. Mehdi said that intolerance is divided into four different categories: religious, political, social and economical. He said that the Ziaul Haq era was the worst in terms of intolerance.
“Even trees were made to accept Islam in that era when God’s names were posted on trees”, he said.
