In Pakistan, minorities have been experiencing persecution since its creation, and they continue to live in fear of the blasphemy law being weaponized against them. Recently, there has been news highlighting the incident of burning Bibles, churches, a Christian graveyard, and Christian houses in Faisalabad. Unfortunately, mainstream media seemed to want to hide these events. 21 churches were burned, and more than 300 Christian houses were set on fire, with the mob stealing belongings from inside. Regrettably, the security forces arrived late to provide protection, leaving the innocent in a vulnerable position. As a result, many Christians were forced to flee their homes, knowing that no one in power would listen to their pleas.
During the incident, as houses and churches were being burned, the Pakistani mainstream media remained silent, and government officials seemed indifferent. People even pleaded for the Rangers to come and provide protection, but no response was received at that moment. It was only when Faisalabad became a trending topic on Twitter that some ministers and ex-ministers started to condemn the incident. However, no concrete action was taken throughout the day, leaving those who had fled their homes to sleep outside in the warm season. In conclusion, mere condemnation on social media will not bring about any substantial change.
It is disheartening to observe that many young individuals, who were in their teens, are at the forefront of burning Bibles, houses, and churches belonging to Christians. This shows that the education system in Pakistan is brainwashing them with hatred. It also demonstrates that the education system in Pakistan must be held accountable for omitting the vital role of Christians in the country’s history, as well as for twisting the narrative to favor the elite group. Unless we reform the education system and teach our children to respect others and refrain from taking the law into their own hands, incidents like these will continue to occur. Our schools have instilled hatred towards Hindus and Christians in the minds of young students, creating an environment where some believe they can act as judge, jury, and executioner.
The government should also refrain from using religion for their political purposes. Our ex-prime minister was motivated by his team to give an “Islamic Touch” in his speeches. Instead, let your work speak for itself. I implore the government and educational institutions to teach children the real history of our nation. It is time to remove the blindfolds and show them the scars of our history. Only then can we begin to heal and move forward.
I am grateful for some Muslims who speak out against these atrocities that have been going on. However, let’s take a moment to teach our kids about tolerance, love, and peace, and how every human being deserves to feel safe and loved. Educational institutes and parents have a lot of work to do, and the future of Pakistan is looking to them to make a difference.