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Karachi: 1 August 2009: Pakistan Dalit Solidarity Network (PDSN) has strongly condemned a recent attack on a Christian village in district Toba Tek Singh in Punjab province and demanded of the government to take immediate action against the people involved in this dirty act of violence.
DSN had also requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take a suo moto notice of the increased incidents of violence against religious minorities and initiate a full fledge judicial inquiry to find out real motives behind such incidents and ensure safety of minorities and low caste poor communities.
According to media reports and local human rights activists a mob attacked a Christian village in the jurisdiction of Godra police station in district Toba Tek Singh on Thursday following false reports of desecration of Holy Quran. The mob set 72 homes of poor Christians at fire; damaged two churches and beat a few men, women and children. There are unconfirmed reports of causalities. Almost entire population of the village was made to flee in horrified manner when the mob attacked.
PDSN in its statement issued here on Saturday, expressed deep concern on the security of minorities particularly low caste Christians and Hindus in the country. “Frequent attacks, damages to lives and properties and kidnapping and harassing had made lives of people belonging to minority faith very insecure,†the statement added.
The statement further said that the state patronage to discriminatory laws such as anti blasphemy law had made it easier for religious bigots to exploit sentiments of common Muslims against people from other faiths and it has become routine that innocent people are killed, imprisoned and homes set at fire on mere allegation of blasphemy or desecration of the holy Quran.
Ironically, the state, for long time, had played a role of silent spectator in such cases which had encouraged those elements that have long been trying to impose their faith on other people and are maligning the name of Islam.
PDSN says that on one hand the government is making tall claims of democracy and moderation on other hand Pakistan is becoming most intolerant and insecure place for religious minorities and other marginalized communities commonly known as Dalits. “No nation or state can claim to be democratic when it fails to protect the lives and honour of minorities,†the statement added.
The statement also severely criticizes the Punjab government of PML (N) which otherwise talks of revolution and supremacy of law but had miserably failed in protecting the lives of poor Christians. “It is not first time that minorities have been attacked and Punjab government had been failed to prevent such repeated attacks,†it added.
PDSN says that PPP claim of bringing democracy back and PML talk of bringing a revolution, would carry no weight in civilized world, if they fail to ensure safety of Hindus, Christians, Ahmadis and other such minorities which have been targeted in recent months.
The network had demanded the government to investigate and award exemplary sentences to the culprits involved in Thursday’s attack so that no one dares to do such dirty acts in the future. Also a reasonable compensation and rehabilitation package along with security had been demanded.
PDSN had also requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of such incidents and ensure that justice is delivered to most marginalized sections of the society.
PDSN had also sympathized with the victims and hoped that they will adopt peaceful means to seek justice and coexistence in the society.
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