Is there no compassion in Islam? Yes, there is. Islam is full of compassion, pity and forgiveness and because of these attributes Islam is admired, loved and followed by millions of people all around the globe. The recent killing on 4th of this month in cold blood of Salman Taseer the Governor of Punjab in Pakistan could have been easily avoided if the killer and his group had to show little compassion to the Christian woman Asia Bibi who was rightly or wrongly sentenced to death for blasphemy. The Governor of Punjab a liberal was supporting the woman Asia Bibi against this death sentence, he wanted this sentence to be commuted as he had his own doubts about the uprightness of this sentence. Being a small minority in Pakistan, Christians are facing lot of hurdles there, many times they are made to face troubles for no fault of theirs. The intelligencia in Pakistan is aware of this but they are not forceful in their resentment as the late assassinated Governor of Punjab who sadly had to pay the price for his straight forwardness. But one thing we must admit, while fighting for justice we have to face the gun shots till justice is delivered.
The killing of Punjab Governor on last Tuesday at Islamabad resembles the killing of Indira Gandhi by her own body guard who was supposed to protect her and also of Anwar Sadat the President of Egypt. It is sad to note that the protectors of VIP’s are become killers of VIP’s . In this situation how can we protect our leaders? Mr. Jinnah the founder of Pakistan if he was alive now, surely he would not approve of the killing of the Governor nor he would allow sentencing of the Christian woman Asia Bibi for Blasphemy. As a matter of fact was the judgment against Asia Bibi proper or was it one sided? In the past when judgment of death sentence against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was passed, the judiciary was mutilated on the instruction of Gen. Zia who was hell-bent to liquidate Bhutto from this planet. Was Asia Bibi given proper hearing and was she equipped with best legal counsel? Coming back to Jinnah, his secular outlook and action were all well known. He was never a religious fanatic and those who propagate fanaticism in Pakistan are going against the principle of Jinnah who was more secular than the seculars themselves.
It is a pity that because of religious belief people of minority community is suffering in Pakistan. In many places in Pakistan Christians are treated as second class citizens. In order to humiliate Chritians Gen. Zia selected a Christian hangman Tara Masih to hang the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Many of the people leaving Pakistan are Christians like what is happening in Iraq. I don’t think Islam propagates hatred for other religious communities especially the people of the book like Christians. Islam recognizes Christianity and as such those Muslims who try to show their hatred towards Christians in the name of their religious belief are doing disservice to their own religion.
How long the tirade against Christians will survive? Day by day Pakistan is going towards extremism. Extremists are pampered and adored. This will finally bounce back on Pakistan only either today or tomorrow and such religious fanatics and extremists will themselves liquidate Pakistan as it is existing now. It is not my wish to see Pakistan getting liquidated thru the power of extremism and fanaticism but something concrete has to be done to prevent this end. The radicalism promoted in Pakistan to teach a good lesson to India is now teaching a very good lesson to Pakistan only.
While concluding, let me quote Jinnah the founder of Pakistan where he shows his secular outlook and sense of justice towards minorities in Pakistan. And will ask the Pakitani religious fanatics whether they are worthy of Jinnah’s ideals.
“We are starting in the days when there is no discrimination, no distinction between one community and another, no discrimination between one caste or creed and another. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one State.The people of England in course of time had to face the realities of the situation and had to discharge the responsibilities and burdens placed upon them by the government of their country and they went through that fire step by step. Today, you might say with justice that Roman Catholics and Protestants do not exist; what exist now is that every man is a citizen, and equal citizen of Great Britain and they are all members of the nation.Now, I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual but in the political sense as citizensofthestate.I do not wish to take up any more of your time and thank you again for the honour you have done to me. I shall always be guided by the principles of justice and fair play without any, as is put in the political language, prejudice or ill-will, in other words, partiality or favouritsm. My guiding principles will be justice and complete impartiality, and I am sure that with your support and co-operation, I can look forward to Pakistan becoming one of the greatest Nations of the world". (Presidential Address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on11thAugust,1947).
" It will be our constant Endeavour to work for the welfare and well-being of all the communities in Pakistan, and I hope that everyone would be inspired by the idea of public service, and they will be imbued with the spirit of co-operation and will excel in their political and civic virtues which go to make a great nation and help to advance its greatness" (Speech on the inauguration of the Pakistan Constituent Assembly on 14th August 1947).
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
