This article is the author’s response to the United States “Religious Freedom Designations“, released on November 17, 2021, which includes Pakistan among the 10 countries of particular concern for alleged violations of religious freedoms.
By Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan
Pakistan is a country of high diversification, a mixture of several ethnicities, religions, races, cultures, and a wide pool of genes. It is the origin of some major religions like Buddhism, Sikhs, etc. Islam enter this region from Arrab, around a thousand years ago. Christianity entered into this region during the colonial era when Western powers colonized the sub-continent.
Diversity is the beauty and strength of Pakistan. Indian civilization is considered one of the oldest civilizations, originating from Indus valley and Balochistan, situated in Pakistan.
Diversity means different opinions and moreover, Pakistan enjoys the highest degree of freedom of expression. The media is enjoying the most liberal practices. Genetically, Pakistan is an accommodative and adaptive society and absorbs any foreign culture and traditions easily.
Arabs came to this region, local people adapted Arab culture, Iranian and Turks entered the subcontinent, their culture was adapted. The British colonized it, British culture became the local culture. American dominated this region, visibility of American culture is witnessed. Recently, the Chinese are investing heavily, one can see the popularity of Chinese food and restaurants in all big cities. Pakistan is a liberal, open and friendly nation by nature and welcomes everyone from any corner of the World. Pakistan is the host of many refugees from various parts of the world, because of its genetic inheritance of hospitality.
Like any other nation, Pakistan may have its own weaknesses and shortfall, but, in respect of social discrimination and biases, Pakistan is a very open nation. Especially, in respect of religious discrimination, Pakistan is a country that always advocates for religious freedom. Either French official policies discriminating Muslims, or the American Visa regime targeting Muslims, Pakistan always raised its voice.
The Pakistani constitution protects all minorities and religions. Overall Pakistan is maintaining a homogenous society, unbiased, discriminatory society. All religions are living in harmony with full freedom. Many non-Muslims are enjoying the highest post in the Government of Pakistan. Exceptional cases might happen with minorities or majorities seldom, but Pakistani powerful courts are there to diver justice.
The recent remarks by the US are baseless and some worry. It seems part of American politics merely. Pakistan rejected the US State Department’s assessment under the US domestic legislation on religious freedom, terming it arbitrary and selective.
The designation of Pakistan as a “Country of Particular Concern” is completely against the realities on the ground and raises serious doubts about the credibility of this exercise, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said during his weekly press briefing.
Each year the US secretary of state identifies “governments and non-state actors, who, because of their religious freedom violations, merit designation under the International Religious Freedom Act”, a statement by US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken said. The US secretary of state has placed Pakistan and several other countries on the list for allegedly “having engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom”. Iftikhar noted that such subjective designations do not contribute towards promoting the cause of religious freedom worldwide.
“Pakistan and the US have been constructively engaging on the subject at the bilateral level, a fact regrettably overlooked by the US,” the spokesperson said.
“Pakistani society is multi-religious and pluralistic with a rich tradition of inter-faith harmony. Religious freedom and the protection of the rights of minorities are guaranteed by our constitution and ensured through a range of legislative, policy, and administrative measures,” he said.
Iftikhar highlighted that the glaring omission of India, where the RSS-BJP regime and their leaders openly disregard religious freedom and discriminate against minority communities in an institutionalized manner, is unfortunate and puts the credibility of the US report into question.
The findings and recommendations of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, as well as the US Congressional hearings on the maltreatment of minorities in India and the violation of religious freedom including in the Muslim-majority Indian, occupied Jammu and Kashmir were ignored by the US State Department, he said.
“We believe the redressal of the rising trend of intolerance, discrimination, xenophobia, and Islamophobia requires global efforts based on the principles of cooperation and mutual understanding,” he said. Pakistan is sincerely playing its part in this endeavor and will continue to do so, the spokesperson added.
Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan – Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), Editor, Analyst, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan.
(The views and opinions expressed in this article are only of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinion or position of World Geostrategic Insights).