don’t eat in the presence of Muslim children.”
Non-Muslim activists say that many of their community members have been beaten up for drinking water or eating during daytime in Ramazan in the past.
Sanjay Kumar, a diabetic Hindu who works at a garment factory, said he had to take a month’s leave in Ramazan.
“I need to drink water after every half an hour and that isn’t possible at the factory during Ramazan,” he added.
A few years ago, TV presenters in their special Ramazan programmes, converted non-Muslims to Islam.
Activists staged protests against these programmes saying that such material was ‘offensive’ to other faiths.
“It was a common practice in Urdu newspapers to glorify conversions, but then it started on TV channels,” said Javed.
However, he added that after severe criticism by the social society and non-Muslim organisations, TV channels had removed this practice from their shows during Ramazan.
Ehteram-e-Ramazan Ordinance
Activists say that before the enforcement of the Ehteram-e-Ramazan Ordinance by Gen Ziaul
Haq’s regime in the 1980s, the spirit of the holy month existed in its true sense.
But after promulgation of the law, situation became uneasy as it prohibited eating in public during the holy month and imposed a penalty for it.
It made non-Muslims more vulnerable during Ramazan.
According to the ordinance, it is forbidden for any person who “according to the tenets of Islam, is under an obligation to fast” to eat, drink or smoke in public places. Activists claim that the vagueness in the law and hence in its implementation leaves it open, making non-Muslims vulnerable.
“We had not seen intolerance before the promulgation of this black law,” said Akhter Hussain Baloch, a leader of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
“Non-Muslim activists and civil society organisations had opposed this law at that time,” he added. “Before it was enacted, canteens and shops at railway stations, filling stations pumps and other public places remained open during Ramazan. It affects both Muslims and non-Muslims.”
Though law enforcers do not keep a vigil on people eating during daytime at public places during daytime in Ramazan, Javed said, “We regularly receive complaints from non-Muslim-populated neighbourhoods about police forcing restaurants to shut down.”