Al-Huda
Foundation, NJ U. S. A
the Message Continues ... 10/99
Newsletter for December 2009
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PAKPAC’s Message on the Atrocities in Gojra,
Pakistan and Appeal to the People of Pakistan.
August 3rd, 2009, Maryland, The Pakistani American Public
Affairs Committee (PAKPAC) joins all our fellow Pakistani
Americans in condemning the recent incidents in Pakistan, when a
small but organized group of thugs attacked a village in Gojra,
Pakistan and took innocent lives of Christian minority community
members and then destroyed their homes. These extremists claimed
to commit these inhumane acts and atrocities as a response to an
alleged blasphemy of the Holy Quran.
PAKPAC asks the Government of Pakistan to arrest the
perpetrators of these crimes and extend severe punishment to
them for the murder of the innocent people. Punishment to such
people should be strong enough to serve as a strong deterrent to
anyone in Pakistan who dares to contemplate such actions.
PAKPAC extends condolences to all the faith communities in
Pakistan, and ensures them that we support them towards
eradicating these hate based, misguided beasts who go against
the very basic teachings of the Quran and Islam that they
pretend to protect.
We ask the larger society in Pakistan to get seriously involved
in a meaningful and focused dialogue to look at how various laws
are being abused in stripping the minorities in Pakistan of
their rights. We need to enlighten ourselves and the world on
how these crimes are against the principles and spirit of the
creation of Pakistan and the core essence and teachings of the
Quran.
We recall the insightful words of Quaid e Azam, the
founding father of Pakistan:
On Jan 9th, 1948: When a riot
broke out resulting in a group of Muslims attacking Hindu
minorities, Quaid said, “ ….. Muslims! Protect your Hindu
neighbors. Cooperate with the Government and the officials in
protecting your Hindu neighbors against these lawless elements,
fifth columnists and cliques. Pakistan must be governed through
the properly constituted Government and not by cliques or fifth
columnists or mobs…”
On February 3rd, 1948: Quaid
in his speech directed towards all Pakistani and the minorities
said, “ …. I assure you, Pakistan means to stand by its oft
repeated promises of according equal rights to all its nationals
irrespective of their caste or creed. Pakistan which symbolizes
the aspirations of a nation that found it self to be a minority
in the Indian subcontinent cannot be UNMINDFUL of minorities
within its own borders. It is a pity that the fair name of
Karachi was sullied by the sudden outburst of communal frenzy
last month and I can’t find words strong enough to condemn the
action of those who are responsible….”
21st March 1948: Mass Rally in Dacca, Quaid said “….let me take
this opportunity of repeating what I have already said: We shall
treat the minorities in Pakistan fairly and justly. We shall
maintain peace, law and order and protect and safeguard every
citizen of Pakistan without any distinction of caste, creed or
community…”
Quaid e Azam also said, “ ..minorities DO NOT cease to be
citizens. Minorities living in Pakistan do not cease to be
citizens by virtue of their belonging to particular faith,
religion or race. I have repeatedly made it clear, especially in
my opening speech to the Constituent Assembly, that the
minorities in Pakistan would be treated as our citizens and will
enjoy all the rights as any other community. Pakistan SHALL
pursue this policy and do all it can to create a sense of
security and confidence in the non-Muslim minorities of
Pakistan.”
We would also like to share with you how strongly the
Quran promotes tolerance and condemns these abhorrent actions.
Defying the spirit and law of the Quran and using verses out of
context to justify these unforgivable actions against fellow
humans is the ultimate disrespect to Quran.
The Quran is very explicit
when it says, “there is no compulsion in religion,” (Quran 2:
256). The Quran also encourages Jews to live by the laws
revealed to them in the Torah. In fact, the Quran expresses
surprise that some Jews sought the arbitration of the Prophet of
Islam (peace be upon him) rather than their own legal tradition
(Quran 5:43). Again, in the same chapter, the Quran also
recommends that the Christians live by their faith; “So let the
people of the Gospel judge by that which Allah has revealed
therein, for he who judges not by that which Allah has revealed
is a sinner,” (Quran 5:47).
The Quran instructs Muslims to deal with the ignorant in the
following manner, “The worshippers of the All-Merciful are they
who tread gently upon the earth, and when the ignorant address
them, they reply, “Peace!” (Quran 25:63).
The Quran also instructs Muslims, “Whosoever kills an innocent
human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and
whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved
the life of all mankind.” (Quran 5:32).
The Quran stresses tolerance and justice: “O ye who believe!
Remain steadfast for Allah, bearing witness to justice. Do not
allow your hatred for others make you swerve to wrongdoing and
turn you away from justice. Be just; that is closer to true
piety. (Quran 5:8)
The Quran highlights the position of Christians in our faith “ .
. . and you will find the nearest in love to the believers
(Muslims) those who say: ‘We are Christians.’ That is because
amongst them are priests and monks, and they are not proud.”
(Quran 5:82) .
Allah gives an unequivocal message in the Quran to the
believers, emphasizing that they must stand up and fight to
protect the rights of Jews and Christians, thereby allowing them
to pray to God in their way.
“Permission (to fight) is given to those who are being attacked,
because they have been wronged. And surely God measures out help
for them. (They are) those who have been expelled from their
homes in defiance of right,- (for no cause) except that they
say, “our Lord is Allah.. Did not Allah check one set of people
by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down
monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the
name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure. Allah will
certainly aid those who aid his (cause);- for verily Allah is
full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (able to enforce His Will).
(Quran 22:39-40)
The references above should leave no doubt in the just
minds regarding who is at fault here. The question we ask the
people, religious institutions, civil society, the government,
elected officials and various political parties including the
opposition parties in Pakistan is, “what they are going to do to
stop the current perpetrators and the institutions supporting
and harboring people of such mindset?”
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