What Minorities Want?

Pakistan has always been into controversy due to neglecting “minorities” especially in interior and rural areas where for decades minorities have observed deprivation, forced conversions and also forced marriages. Minorities which include 2% of Hindus and 1.6% of Christians claim their rights of work, freedom of life, education and have worship places intact have not been given for decades. 

These all things are there, everyday minority face challenges in the hiring process, education sector or even their temples and worship places face threats by Islamist extremist or radicals, their existence and independence have always been politized and they have been pushed to take up underprivileged jobs and sometimes their girls are been forcefully converted. These bad practices have not been given proper attention or maybe no former government has thought about listening to their voice and understand their needs, wants, and also desire. 

They are equally national and local as an average Pakistani is, but the problem is they have always been looked down upon due to the tag of “Non Muslim”, which is completely wrong and should be condemned. 

Ever since this new government which is absolutely pro “all citizens” and think as they are actually “public servant” they have actually worked on improving minorities condition and their living standard but still they need to bring more transparency in their admissions into educational institutions, recruitment process where they are given equal chance, give them full bright scholarships just based on the tag of “minority” and also their temples, worship places should be properly taken care as the mosques of society are. 

Not just basic rights, rather they should be actually included in the society where they should be treated equally, asked to join in parties and also should be welcomed as equal not as below than an average Pakistani. 

I have been noticing an average woman who belongs to a typical family or minority group is going through the same treatment by their family or society over choosing a partner of her will, studying among so-called “Muslims-Pakistanis” etc, which include attracting honor killings, kidnapping, forced marriages or forced conversions and all. These wrong practices have to be stopped, government has to educate not just the government and even at the provincial level to treat these vulnerable groups with care and listen to their complaints and issues. 

Involving UNO or sending them abroad or they are seeking asylum as a refugee in Canada or UK is not the solution, the solution is they should feel like they are at home in their own country which is “Pakistan” not abroad. 

It’s not even the job of just the government to take care of them, of course, they should but it’s the responsibility of all Pakistanis to welcome them in a real sense not to make them feel like an outsider or as if Pakistan is not their home, it’s their country equally as it is of a normal Pakistani.