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Prof. Ajoy Roy

Perhaps encouraged by the happenings in Bangladesh the communal-fundamentalist force of Pakistan has turned on their minority communities by killing 18 innocent Christian men and women in a roman catholic church on Sunday, 28^th October.

Pakistan is a land of Muslims inhabited by Muslims predominantly of Sunni faiths. The state is Islamic Republic and no law can be enacted if it is not consistent with Quran and Sunnah. The country is religiously monolithic except insignificant number of Hindus known as Hari community living near the shore of Karachi and scattered in some areas of Sindh, not more than few thousands. Another minority community is the native Christians. The Christian population will not exceed 1 percent of the total population of Pakistan (120 million) i.e. around one hundred thousand. Fundamentalists are not prepared to tolerate even this small numbers in their midst in the holy land. They are determined to wipe out these minority people by any means. Encouraged by the state patronization since 1947, the communal and fundamentalist forces have been systematically carrying out atrocious activities against the minority communities. In the recent past the Blasphemy law has become an easily available weapon to them to torture the members of the minority community. They are using this tool not only against the religious minorities and non-Muslims, but the tool is equally is being effectively used against non-orthodox Muslims, secular, democrat, liberal and rationalist Muslims. Dr Younus Shaikh of Islamabad Homeopath College is the latest victim of the Mullahs.

The fundamentalist, perhaps encouraged by the ideals of Bin Laden and equipped with Taliban supplied modern arms, has resorted to path of direction, as shown to them by their Quid-e-Azam back in 1946, to eliminate the weaker communities of the population who do not belong to the Islamic fold. Recent attack by an armed group of fundamentalists on a Roman Catholic Church at Bahawalpur town about 100 km south of Multan City in Punjab is a glare example. The attacker consisting of six armed hoodlums came on three motorcycles at about 9 a.m. on Sunday, 28^th October. They first killed the policeman guarding the Church at the gate. Immediately entering the prayer Hall they opened fire on the men and women assembled inside for Sunday prayer. In this operation 18 persons including a few women were killed. All of them belong to Roman Catholic faiths. It is learnt that the miscreants have used AK 47 rifles.

No doubt, General Musharraf, Pakistani President expressed his deep sorrow. He assured the religious minorities of their safety and culprits would be brought to justice. But his sympathy has not done any good in the past nor will do in future. He on the one hand encourages the fundamentalists, patronizes Islamic terrorism in Afghanistan and Kashmir and on the other hand he openly, on the surface, sides with the USA action directed against Afghanistan, sympathizes to the victims of Church. This actions of duplicity does not spring from any noble thought but has been taken to serve self interest of Pakistan. It is quite well known Musharraf himself was involved in the development of Taliban faction of armed groups in Afghanistan, which has now developed into a great demon and became not only a threat to simple Afghan people but to civilization itself. He has always been sympathizer of the terrorist actively engaged in Kashmir whom he dearly calls freedom fighters. Unless Pakistan chooses the path of democracy, secularism, humanism there is no future of Pakistan. It will remain in the hand of the Fundamentalists in some form or other; the military will always act as their protector. And so long Minorities, religious, cultural or ethnic will continue to cry and cry. It is a curse to be a member of minority community in an Islamic Country whether it openly professes as in Pakistan or silently as in Bangladesh.

The minorities are same whether they are in Pakistan or in Bangladesh. They are treated in the same manner by the communalists and fundamentalists. Killings, violation of women, destruction of temples and the deities and various sorts of torture directed against the religious minorities in Bangladesh by the communalists and fanatics must have encouraged their counter parts in Pakistan. And I am afraid this chain-reaction will not stop here. It is likely that Bajrangs, Adavanis, Sjbasenas are just looming on to their prey in secular India. If it is not checked what is in store for us I can only imagine but can not think of its magnitude and dimension devastation once it is triggered. The whole subcontinent will immerse in the darkness.

Have General Musharraf, Prime Minister Atal Behari Bajpayee and Prime Minister Lady Khaleda such vision and greatness, and "will and determination " to rise to the occasion. I have serious doubt- as they are politicians, not statesmen !