The members of the minority’s community are playing a key role in the country’s construction and development in various fields including education, medicine, military and bureaucracy, Ambassador Allama Muhammad Ahsan Siddiqui.
Karachi: They have equal rights, adding that establishment of a prosperous and peace-loving society is impossible without their contributions and role. Minorities played a very important role in creation of Pakistan but unfortunately the current circumstances were clearly contrary to the ideas of Quaid-e-Azam. Today, August 11, on the occasion of National Minorities Day, Ambassador at large for Global Peace, Human Rights & Interfaith Harmony Imam Allama Ahsan Siddiqui Chairman Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony (ICPH) Message on the occasion of National Minorities Day . He said that this day renews the commitment to the protection of minorities and national harmony among different religions. Quaid-e-Azam gave this vision in his historic address on 11 August 1947, which is included in the 1973 constitution, in which minorities are allowed to practice their religion and culture freely. He said that he was inspired by the vision of Quaid-e-Azam. August 11 is a day to reaffirm the commitment to protect the rights of all citizens and treat them equally regardless of religion, caste or race.
They have equal rights, adding that establishment of a prosperous and peace-loving society is impossible without their contributions and role. Minorities played a very important role in creation of Pakistan but unfortunately the current circumstances were clearly contrary to the ideas of Quaid e Azam. We salute our non – Muslim brothers and sisters for their contributions, services, sacrifices for nation building. In the Covenant of Medina, the people of all religions living in Medina were guaranteed their political, social and economic rights. The Chairman Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony (ICPH) Imam Allama Ahsan Siddiqui said that the Quaid-e-Azam said in his path-breaking speech to the first session of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan that there would be “no discrimination between one community and another”, adding that the founder of Pakistan derived this concept from the Holy Quran and Hadith. He said that the Holy Quran forbade coercion when it ordained, “For you is your religion and for me is my religion.” He said that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) warned that if anyone usurped the right of a non-Muslim or took anything from him without his will, he (SAW) would plead his case on non-Muslim citizen’s behalf on the Day of Judgment.
Imam Allama Ahsan Siddiqui said Islam has given universal message of peace and harmony and it respects all other religions, protects religious freedom and ensures security of all religious communities,” Allama Siddiqui said, adding: “Pakistan is the only country where people from different religions live in peace and harmony, credit of which goes to government, religious scholars and leaders of all schools of thought. It is the responsibility of the state to ensure protection and safety to minorities living in an Islamic country and Non Muslim Pakistanis should not feel threatened from any individual, organization and specific community as Islam is guarantor of protection of rights of minorities residing in Muslim majority country.
Global Peace & Human Rights Ambassador Imam Allama Ahsan Siddiqui said that Articles 4, 9, 14, 15, 16 and 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan guarantee conferment of equal rights on all citizens on the basis of equality. He said that the rights of the minorities are invariably violated at the behest of the governments with a political context. He said that the Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony (ICPH) considers the non-Muslims as equal citizens of the country in the light of the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunna, the Constitution of Pakistan and the Quaid-e-Azam’s speech of August 11, 1947 and holds their services and contributions during the freedom struggle and in development of the country in the highest esteem. He said that the ICPH has always adopted a clear and manifest stance on the excesses committed against the minorities devoid of any ambiguity and sided with them during these times.
Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony (ICPH) would not be part of any religious conflict, as Islam had no room for extremism. Today we must renew this commitment and ensure that the human rights of all our citizens are protected. This is our obligation as a Muslim. This is our Founder’s vision for Pakistan. Ambassador of Pakistan Imam Allama Muhammad Ahsan Siddiqui assured the non-Muslim citizens that they should not worry as they have unstinted support of the ICPH. He said that we would not rest till we get justice and rights for the minorities in the light of the Quaid-e-Azam’s vision and the spirit of the Constitution. He said that the ICPH is of the considered opinion that without active role and contributions. Allama Ahsan Siddiqui called for the implementation of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s principles of tolerance and religious freedom.
