The poor segment among minorities in Pakistan

Shamim Mehmood

A study reveals that the lack of protection of the rights of minorities within the state has resulted in major internal, and to some extent, international conflicts. South Asia has a large number of Muslim population. Within South Asia, three countries have declared Islam as their state religion which include Pakistan, Bangladesh and Maldives. India, which has the second largest population in the world, has around 200 million followers of Islam.

Situation of the minorities in India cannot be called satisfactory as Hindu extremist groups have made life difficult for religious minorities like Muslims, Christians and even low caste Hindus. Bangladesh continues to discriminate against Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and indigenous tribes living in the Chittagong Valley. Similarly, in Sri Lanka, the Tamil people living there are being subjected to human rights abuses because of the sense of superiority of the Sinhalese Buddhist priests. Nepal seems reluctant to grant civil rights to the large population living in the mountains and valleys. Sectarian violence in Pakistan has long history; Shia-Sunni sectarian conflict and difference among other sects among Muslims can be seen in the Gulf region as well as in Pakistan. Racial violence continues around the world. 

Religious minorities are not secure in Pakistan due to discriminatory laws and biased attitudes. Recognition of a minority in any country is a prerequisite for the protection of minority rights. However, there is no clear definition of a minority at the international level as to which individual or group has these rights. In Pakistan, only religious minorities are recognized. Racism, hatred and religious bigotry are in fact serious forms of intolerance. In India, though low caste Hindus are not consider the minorities but they suffer a lot. To understand a minority, language, culture, religion and race can be considered as some factors but weak and inferior groups are the minorities in any society. 

Thus, in Pakistan, although Hindus are considered a minority, the Dalits (lower caste Hindus) among the Hindus are considered weak and inferior within the minorities. Sanitary workers and low class income group among Christians are actually vulnerable, though they have no separate identity.  

Therefore, a separate model needs to be developed for the protection and mutual tolerance of minorities in South Asia. Millions of Hindus and Christians across the country are living under the poverty line and are engaged in manual jobs. Due to their nature of jobs and living, not only the majority of the population but also members of their own faith avoid them. In this era of technological advances, they are forced to work manually. Their women work as housemaids and are often involved in fake cases of robbery and theft by their Muslim employers as a means to subjugate them. 

They are also harassed and sexually assaulted frequently. The economic condition is the main reason of the sufferings of this segment. Their women are treated as public property and if they refuse, they face serious consequences. 

A similar incident took place in the federal capital right under the nose of the Prime Minister secretariat. A Christian girl, Sonia 24, was shot dead on Islamabad Expressway in broad daylight when she was going to her workplace. Her only fault was that she refused to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim suitor. But I guess; it does not make any difference to the authorities. Such types of incidents are very common now and happening around.

Given the current situation, it seems that the people living below the poverty line will continue to grind in the same mill for generations. At present, an awareness campaign for the rights of minorities is underway in political parties and a section of civil society to bring minorities and locals into the mainstream.