Episode of T.T. Singh
Sunday, August 2, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Sunday, August 02, 2009
In Toba Tek Singh in Punjab, that town immortalized by Sadaat Hassan Manto's moving story of the madness of Partition in 1947, insanity has struck once again. A mob of Muslims, following announcements on mosque loudspeakers that Christians had burned pages from the Holy Quran, attacked the homes of those they declared 'infidels'. Christian groups, who have rushed to the area following calls for help, say some 40 houses have been damaged after they were set alight, and an unknown number of people, including women and children, hurt. We have seen similar acts of mob frenzy in the past. Quite often it has been found on investigation that some issue of personal animosity has inspired it. Clerics and extremist groups have in some cases played a negative role. All this of course needs to be investigated.
The Blasphemy Law introduced by General Ziaul Haq has made it easier to persecute people on the basis of sometimes completely mala fide accusations. The law needs review and amendment. But we must also ask what local authorities were doing as people went on the rampage. It is hard to believe they could do nothing to prevent the mayhem. Their lack of action and sometimes connivance with those acting against minority groups have, in the past, made all kinds of outrages possible. Their role too needs to be inquired into and clear-cut instructions given for the future so that there is no doubt about the need to do everything possible to protect any group of citizens facing peril as a consequence of their religious beliefs.
Source
In Toba Tek Singh in Punjab, that town immortalized by Sadaat Hassan Manto's moving story of the madness of Partition in 1947, insanity has struck once again. A mob of Muslims, following announcements on mosque loudspeakers that Christians had burned pages from the Holy Quran, attacked the homes of those they declared 'infidels'. Christian groups, who have rushed to the area following calls for help, say some 40 houses have been damaged after they were set alight, and an unknown number of people, including women and children, hurt. We have seen similar acts of mob frenzy in the past. Quite often it has been found on investigation that some issue of personal animosity has inspired it. Clerics and extremist groups have in some cases played a negative role. All this of course needs to be investigated.
The Blasphemy Law introduced by General Ziaul Haq has made it easier to persecute people on the basis of sometimes completely mala fide accusations. The law needs review and amendment. But we must also ask what local authorities were doing as people went on the rampage. It is hard to believe they could do nothing to prevent the mayhem. Their lack of action and sometimes connivance with those acting against minority groups have, in the past, made all kinds of outrages possible. Their role too needs to be inquired into and clear-cut instructions given for the future so that there is no doubt about the need to do everything possible to protect any group of citizens facing peril as a consequence of their religious beliefs.
Source
Labels: Blasphemy Law, Rights of Minorities
posted @ 9:51 AM,
2 Comments:
-
At August 2, 2009 at 5:11 PM,
Unknown said...
-
it is a sad event of killing non-muslims. it should be investigated either the killed people actually burned pages from Holy Quran or not! Religion is a burning point almost all the societies of the world.
-
At August 2, 2009 at 7:04 PM,
Admin said...
-
It's not the religious but pseudo religious people who are the source of trouble. Nobody should be allowed to take law into one's own hands.
Post a Comment