Speakers at a seminar on minority rights termed curriculum responsible for increasing hate in the country, particularly against religious minorities. They stressed the need of removal of all hate material to create harmony among different sections of society for a peaceful Pakistan.
They said this during the seminar titled ‘Peace Conference’. This seminar was jointly organised by South Asia Partnership Pakistan (SAP-Pk) and Bacha Khan Trust Education Foundation (BKTEF), while facilitated by National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) at a local hotel on Saturday.
They said that erasing lessons from the curriculum and avoiding hate speeches is vital in order to create harmony and brotherhood among all the different Pakistani religions.
Those spoke on the occasion included Sardar Charan Jeet Singh, Haroon Sarab Diyal from Hindu community, NCJP Executive Director Cecil Chaudhry, NCJP Regional Director Father John William, Augustin Jacob, Barrister Hashim Raza, Sikander Zaman from SAP-Pk, Qamar Naseem of Blue Veins, BKTEF Managing Director Khadim Hussain, ANP central leaders Bushra Gohar and MPA Sardar Hussain Babak and NCJP Programme Manager Kashif Aslam.
Haroon Sarab Diyal said that they did not migrate from the neighbouring country during partition, but they have been living on this soil of their forefathers for a long time. Despite this fact, he added, they are considered as Indians and this is all because of the curriculum. This curriculum is based on hate against non-Muslim Pakistanis, particularly Hindus and Sikhs, he said.
Sardar Charan Jeet Singh expressed his grievances and said minorities were being a step-motherly behaviour and ignored on every platform. He added that there are some elements, who want to create distances between Muslim and non-Muslim Pakistanis.
Qamar Naseem suggested that the issue of hate material should be raised on the SAARC level because such hate speeches and lessons are also taught to students against Muslims and Pakistan in India.
Sardar Hussain Babak alleged that the land was acquired in the name of Allah, but hate is spread from that land instead, which he added was condemnable. About the transgender Alesha’s killing, he maintained that it was due to intolerance saying unless and until hateful lessons are removed from the curriculum and even speeches in routine life; the minorities would continue feeling a sense of deprivation.
Father John William and Cecil Chaudhry urged the need for unity among all the different religions.
Advocate Hashim Raza, Dr Khadim Hussain, Bushra Gohar, Kashif Aslam and other speakers also shared their views about peace and minority rights.
