Radio Show Special: Status of Pakistani Christians, constitution and Our attitudes

Radio Show Lok LharSpecial

Status of Pakistani Christians, Constitution and Our attitudes

Lok Lhar Special Radio Show Friday @ 25th December 4 to 6 pm
ONLY Mast Fm 103 Studios
Status of Pakistani Christians, constitution and Our attitudes
Hosts Afzal Saahir and Aamir Riaz Tu Tu
Participants: Hafiz Rashid Mahmood, Shakeel Bhatti, Sister Arsene Anthony Asif Aqeel & Sabiha Shaheen

Listen by clicking here

Recording

1. Colonial legacy to use religion and sects in State Craft was inherited by both newly formed countries India & Pakistan in 1947.
2. Allama Iqbal & Jinnah accepted religious and sub-religious (sectarian) diversity and Pakistan movement was a struggle of minority Muslims to safeguard their rights as equal citizens. The challenge to minorities included in political scene after the infamous Lucknow Pact of 1916. Rowlatt committee report further communalize the politics by calling an uprising A Hindu German conspiracy in 1917.   Khilafat Movement was another colonial twist to tackle Hindu-German Conspiracy. Muslims were largest minority (more then 25%) in subcontinent and had marginal majorities in two provinces i-e Bengal (their first capital) and the Punjab (Epic center of Frontier Forward Policy). Due to weight-age formula, coined by Lucknow Pact, muslim majorities were compromised in both provinces. That is why Iqbal called it a pitfall. Even in his historic Allahbad address he pinpointed it too. Muslims of India fought their case with the help of Bengal and the Punjab. Strength of Indian Muslims was in muslim majority provinces so Muslim League after 1937 defeat had realized its mistakes and change its attention towards muslim majority provinces. So in pre-partition politics ML acknowledged provincial and minority rights well yet in post 1947 politics rulers not only rejected diversity but also adopted centralist legacy of colonial rulers. Even then due to timely intervention of then Finanace minister Malik Ghulam Muhammad Objective resolution got a place only in the preamble. In 1950 first draft of proposed constitution was submitted in the assembly which had a reasonably good report regarding miority rights. There was not any condition on the posts of PM and President regarding religion. But Liaqat ali himself withdrew from it.  
3. From 1947 till 1971, religious minorities were 22% in whole country while in Eastern wing religious minorities were more then 29% but during that period they failed to use their pressure and remained aloof from the political arena by and large. Dhakha Fall reduced percentage of religious minorities from 22 to 7 or less then 5%. 
4. During Zia era religious minorities were targeted mainly but its preamble was written during Yayha Khan period. as per news a Christian Judge Justice Cornelius was preparing Islamic Constitution for the dictator while Yahya Khan education policy recommended a ban on Missionary organizations and called them against ideology of Pakistan. Zia had changed the social contract coined by Ghulam Muhammad in late 1940s and made Objective Resolution part of the Constitution. It was beginning of the   problems for religious minorities in Pakistan
5. Today Pakistan's projected population is more then 200 million and if religious minorities are 5% (their claim is 7%) then it means that non-muslim Pakistanis are more then 10 million in Pakistan. but they have no presence in Public and private textbooks. There is not any lesson regarding services of non-muslim Pakistanis.
6. But as par constitution every Pakistani is equal in the eyes of the law. But in practice poor people have problems for justice and majority of religious minorities are poor. 
7. Due to Education policy 2009, Non-Muslim Pakistanis got right to have textbooks of ethics (books for non muslims as advised in 2006 curriculum) instead of islamic Studies. It was a good news but Only Government of the Punjab has published all textbooks from class 3 to 10 so far
8. In 18th amendment Pakistani politicians accepted Joint electorate. it was introduced in the infamous 17th amendment during Musharaf times. Politicians rejected 17th amendment but continued with joint electorate. Since 2010 it is in practice and in current period we have witnessed even local body elections. But till today religious minorities failed to take advantage from that opening. It is because of their A-Political attitude. they are not part of major political parties neither remained active in struggle against marshallahs.  It is high time for them to change their narrative.

Another program about Pakistani Christians recorded at official TV , it has good information too but many facts are missing and twisted too

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3jmqnk_defence-diplomacy-pakistani-christians-carry-jinnah-s-message_news