LAHORE: Religious leaders from different schools of thought on Friday rejected the US State Department’s report on international religious freedom in Pakistan.
In a joint statement, Pakistan Ulema Council leaders and representatives of different religious schools of thought stated that US Department of State issued baseless report relating freedom of religion in Pakistan.
They categorically underlined that all the citizens, including minorities, are customary to ensure implementation of law and Constitution of Pakistan.
Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Tahir Ashrafi and representatives of different religious schools of thought, including Pastor Amanuel Khokhar, Pastor Shahid Maharaj, Bishop Dr Azad Marshal, Father James Chinon, Sardar Bishon Singh, Prof Abdul Rahman Khan, Allama Ziaullah Shah Bukhari, Mufti Muhammad Ali Naqshbandi, Maulana Muhammad Aseedur Rehman and Maulana Asmatullah Muhavia condemned recent report of US Department of State relating international freedom of religions in Pakistan. US Department of State compiled the report on misleading information, which is complete negation of reality in Pakistan.
Tahir Ashrafi speaking on this occasion termed US Department of State report a baseless propaganda on freedom of religion in Pakistan.
The irony of situation is that US Department of State is turning a blind eye to situation of rights for minorities in India. Any religious minority in India is not safe from Modi government. Entire India is on roads against newly-implemented controversial citizens’ laws for minorities in India but world community is demonstrating negligence on worst human rights situation in India. Sikh community’s Golden Temple and Babri Masjid of Muslims had been razed in India and even more than 200 churches were put on fire. On the other side, oppressed people of Kashmir are facing lockdown for last four consecutive months. US Department of State is demonstrating criminal silence on state of rights in Kashmir and India but raising fingers against Pakistan on excuse of freedom of religion is baseless and misleading.
If US Department of State aims to ensure peace and harmony in the world, it has to stop its dual standard policies. Ashrafi stated that Pakistan Ulema Council has always raised voice for rights of minorities in Pakistan and any individual or group had never been allowed in Pakistan to seize minorities’ rights in the country. Minorities living in Pakistan enjoy all the rights as defined in Constitution of Pakistan and as preached in the teachings of Quran and Sunnah. All the minorities living in Pakistan respect and honour Constitution of Pakistan.
