REPORT LAUNCH: HRCP’s report ‘A Breach of Faith: Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2021-22’ observes with considerable alarm developments during 2021/22 that belie the state’s commitment to freedom of religion or belief. 1/3@EUPakistan https://t.co/Vpj4o5KxRw pic.twitter.com/aKgY61f0iS

— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) February 7, 2023

The HRCP, in a report titled: A Breach of Faith: Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2021-22, said that “it has observed with considerable alarm developments during 2021/22 that belie the state’s commitment to freedom of religion or belief.”

The report pointed out that the incidence of forced conversions in Sindh has remained “worryingly consistent”. It also added that the desecration of Ahmadi worship places has continued with no response from the State.

The incidence of forced conversions in Sindh has remained worryingly consistent. Reports of religious minorities’ sites of worship being desecrated have continued, but with no response from the state when such incidents involve sites associated with the Ahmadiyya community. 2/3

— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) February 7, 2023

In Punjab, the mandatory declaration of faith for marriage certificates has further marginalised the Ahmadiyya community, while attempts to enforce a standardised national curriculum have created an exclusionary narrative that sidelines Pakistan’s religious minorities. 3/3

— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) February 7, 2023

“In Punjab, the mandatory declaration of faith for marriage certificates has further marginalised the Ahmadiyya community, while attempts to enforce a standardised national curriculum have created an exclusionary narrative that sidelines Pakistan’s religious minorities,” it added.

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An event for #KashmirDay a cleric demanding deportation of #Ahmadis from Pakistan. That’s happening in the presence of a man in uniform sitting on stage pic.twitter.com/X284AelWa0

— Nasir Ahmad (@nasir9002) February 5, 2023

According to the reports, the two-year-old clip is of a cleric addressing an event organised to mark Kashmir Day.

The cleric calls Ahmadis “traitors” amid applause from the crowd.

He further asks the people gathered at the event to start a campaign against ‘Qadianis’ to remove them from government jobs.

He says there is no place for ‘Qadianis’ in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, human rights activists and International Human Rights Committee have condemned the remarks made in the video in the presence of police officials.

⚠️ INCIDENT REPORT

STATE AND NON-STATE ACTORS COLLABORATE TO INSTIGATE HATRED AGAINST AHMADIS: “Qadianis (Ahmadis) are traitors… they should be expelled from Pakistan”

⬇️ Full report pic.twitter.com/vxIR32pdPJ

— International Human Rights Committee (IHRC) (@IHumanRightsC) February 7, 2023

A video got viral on social media, a while ago, in which a person is declaring Ahmadis as traitors and asking the audience to start a campaign against
Ahmadis and audience including personals of law enforcing agencies were clapping.pic.twitter.com/jNxzkAyA1K

— International Human Rights Committee (IHRC) (@IHumanRightsC) February 7, 2023

The video resurfaces amid an increase in attacks against Ahmadi worship places.
A representative from the Ahmadi press section had shared a list of attacks on Ahmadi worship places this year with Dissent Today.

According to the list, police in Wazirabad destroyed the minarets of a worship place on January 10th; miscreants destroyed the minarets of a worship place in Karachi on January 18th. In a similar attack, minarets of a worship place in Saddar Karachi were also destroyed on February 2nd. Miscreants also set fire to two Ahmadi worship places in Umerkot and Mirpurkhas, respectively, on February 3rd.

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If I had prodigious wisdom as a child, I would have asked my parents why their ancestors chose this part of the border when the majority of the Hindus were moving from the newly-created Pakistan to Hindu-majority India in 1947. I am certain they would have answered that it was due to their love for the land, unchallenged loyalty, ancestral abodes, and deep attachment to their motherland, which they endearingly called Dharti Mata, that they decided to stay here.

So, 5 million Hindus are living in Pakistan by choice today – it does not matter if the choice they made was right or wrong. What is important is that they are not living here by any compulsion or coercion. However, in return, they are persecuted, marginalized, and otherized. They are labeled as “traitors”, “Indians” and “RAW agents”. They are forced to live in fear and a sense of insecurity.

Ironically, Pakistani Hindus who are labelled “Indians” in Pakistan are treated with contempt even when they visit India — where they face the same inhuman treatment because, for extremists in India, their Pakistani identity contradicts their Hindu faith.

So, we are people with no land.

If I raise my voice and write something against persecution, and atrocities committed against minorities or issues like the forced conversion of underage Hindu girls to Islam in Pakistan, my patriotism is questioned, and I am labelled as a RAW agent. If I write something against the Muslim minority in India, the Modi bhakts call me an ISI agent.

In the 75-odd years of post-partition history, the Hindu citizens of Pakistan lost their identity. They are identified in the Constitution, in the State’s narrative, and in public life as non-Muslims, infidels or kaafirs, Indians, and whatnot.

The negation of Hindu identity by using the prefix “non” is so normalised and internalised by the State that it is never realised that this excludes, and otherises the Hindus residing in Pakistan, making them second-class citizens.  Elsewhere in the world, Muslims will never or hardly hear being referred to as non-Christians, non-Hindus, or non-Jews, but here they happily otherise me and negate my identity. Sometimes, I jokingly say Pakistan has a 96% non-Hindus and 4% non-Muslim population. But who cares what I say here?

Under the garb of the two-nation theory, the State discriminates against us through the Constitution, while instilling hatred against us through the curriculum as well.

The bigotry against Hindus is normalised and internalised to the extent that passing funny remarks against Hindus, and using derogatory words against them, their beliefs, and their deities are done very casually here. A Hindu residing in Pakistan feels this discrimination and hatred from people they come in contact with on a daily basis— be it a neighbour, a class fellow, a colleague, or anyone for that matter.

“Why don’t you convert to Islam?” asks our class fellow.

“We can’t share the same plate,” tells our co-worker.

“You can’t celebrate our religious festivals,” chides our neighbour.

The story does not end here: we have to prove our patriotism and review our certificate of loyalty whenever someone demands it. Whether it is the 14^th of August, 23^rd of March, 6^th of September or any other national day, the majority of patriotic zealots expect Hindus to express their patriotism or loyalty publicly.

This is patriotism under the garb of jingoism.

My love for Pakistan should not require me to hate India or its people, but the state’s narrative demands I condemn my neighbours, so I could be considered a loyal citizen.

If I highlight the atrocities committed against Hindus in Pakistan, I am quickly countered with a cliched argument: “Don’t you see what is happening with Muslims in India?” Atrocities against Muslims or other minority communities elsewhere are equally condemnable, but using those incidents to justify violence in your own country is hypocritical.

The State needs to rise against the extremist elements in society and support a narrative of inclusivity and equality by guaranteeing that every religious group is given the same respect and their basic rights are protected.

Anjli Kumari

The writer is a university student and an activist

The post Growing Up Hindu In Pakistan Means Constantly Being Asked To Prove Your Loyalty  appeared first on Dissent Today.

Some students have termed this as discrimination towards Sindhi students, who have been identified as Amir Ali and Naveed Ahmad, and a disregard for the freedom of expression in relation to national cultures. Students are also calling for protests if DUET does not reverse its suspension decision.

Stand with DUET students ✊✊#shameonduetadministration #shameonfaizullahabbasi pic.twitter.com/MJU79zgEGw

— Aanand marxist ☭ (@apmarxist) January 24, 2023

DUET management Should Cancel The suspensions of peacefull students .#shameonduetadministration pic.twitter.com/8DYI2QC4qz

— WASEEM AHMED JAMALI (@WASEEMAHMEDJAM3) January 22, 2023

We issue a warning to the "VC DUET " DUET administration and Sikandar Abbasi to end prejudice against Sindhi students; otherwise, protests ought to be held across Sindh.#shameonfaizullahabbasi #shameonduetadministration#shameonsikanderabbasi pic.twitter.com/seWKLrhNTH

— Gulzar e Ali (@GulzareAli1) January 21, 2023

According to the notification issued by DUET, the students were expelled as a result of misbehavior with the chairperson of its Chemistry department.

https://twitter.com/PrsfK/status/1617926188592422912

Voicepk.net reports that violence erupted during the birth anniversary celebrations of G. M. Syed in Dadu and Hyderabad as police clashed with activists there. This resulted in three policemen and two activists being injured, whereas two police vehicles were set on fire. Leaders of nationalist groups allegedly claimed that one wounded colleague died from gunshot wounds.

Violence erupts during #GMSyed birth anniversary celebrations in #Dadu/#Hyderabad as police clash with activists. 3 policemen and 2 activists injured, 2 police vehicles set on fire. Leaders of nationalist groups claim 1 wounded colleague died from gunshot wounds. pic.twitter.com/EJD9cytNO4

— Voicepk.net (@voicepkdotnet) January 18, 2023

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