Human chain for Youhanabad victims

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In a bid to condemn the ongoing attacks on the country’s oppressed communities and the continuous failure of State authorities to protect its citizens, the National Students Federation (NSF) Pakistan on Sunday formed a human shield outside the St. Patrick’s Cathedral during their mass, as a symbolic expression of providing protection to the community.

The efforts came as a statement against the government’s inability to address crises in the country. Despite assurances of a massive crackdown against religious extremists by the State, the Taliban yet again managed to carry out a dastardly act on two churches in Lahore, killing 15 innocent Christians and injuring over 70.

The NSF also stood against the brutal lynching of two suspects following the attack but condemned the way the whole community was held responsible for the actions of a mob. It was of the opinion that the growing trend of mob justice was a clear indication of the people’s lack of trust in the State as well as its judicial system.

The charged up protestors vehemently chanted slogans against religious fundamentalism as well as the State’s claims of ridding the country of the menace.

NSF Pakistan Central Organiser Khurram Ali while addressing the protestors reiterated NSF’s stance that the State was not taking any action against the ideological centres of the terrorists, neither their organizations, working on the grassroots, such as the ASWJ or JuD were being touched by the law enforcement agencies’.

“It clearly shows that the State is not interested in an across the board operation instead is only targeting those who have attacked the military institution,” Ali said.

Speaking of the coverage given to the mob reaction, Ali said neither the intellectuals nor the media played their due role. “It was unfortunate to see how the federal minister declared it the worst kind of terrorism but did not feel the need to address the parliament when a Christian couple was meted out the same treatment.”

He added that the likes of Aurganzeb Farooqi and Hafiz Saeed enjoyed more security than the Churches, which were attacked. Condemning the decade-old policy of supporting a few militant groups, Ali said that if things continued in the same direction Pakistan would soon fail as a State.

The State was fast withering away and the only solution left was for the common people to stand up and form a mechanism of security on their own, he added.

“It is extremely disappointing to see that the State is more concerned about suppressing the voices of Baloch and Sindhis nationalists by setting up Madrassas in the provinces, of these very terrorists it claims to fight,” he stated.

NSF Karachi General Secretary Kabir Ali while addressing the demonstration spoke of times when Christians used to teach Muslims in their schools and added that things started changing after the State decided it was favour only those who were Muslims. “This is what you get for deciding a religion for your State; the only solution lies in Pakistan being declared a secular country.”

He opined that unless all institutions including the military, the judiciary, the bureaucracy and the parliament consider the minorities as equal citizens of the State would they be considered equal. “Mere statements upholding equality of citizens is no good, if you really do consider them equals then it has to reflect in the policies you make.”

 

1 COMMENT

  1. What you r doing with Ahmadiya community ? You r talking about equality of citizens in Pakistan?

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