by Shafique Khokhar

In Faisalabad, Muslims and Christians remember the idea of nation promoted by its founding father, Ali Jinnah, in 1947. "Today's reality is far from" that, Christian activist says. Muslim assemblyman predicts communal relations will improve, but abductions and forced conversions push hundreds of Hindu families to flee.

Faisalabad (AsiaNews) - Pakistani Muslims and Christians celebrated Independence Day on Tuesday, remembering the idea of nation promoted by the Father of the Nation, Ali Jinnah: a democratic country open to people of all races and religions where everyone enjoyed equal rights. Waving flags and singing songs, including the national anthem, people from different religious backgrounds took part in ceremonies in many cities to mark the end of British rule and the birth of the new nation. In Faisalabad, human rights foundations organised some of the events. However, some individuals and groups continue to endure violence and persecution because of their ethnic and religious background. In recent weeks, hundreds of Hindu families crossed into India, in a process similar to that of 1947 when Muslims moved to the newly-created Pakistan, and Hindus left home for the safety of India.

In Faisalabad (Punjab), the Peace and Human Development (PHD) Foundation, in cooperation with CARE, sponsored an interfaith Independence Day ceremony, which began with readings from the Holy Bible and the Holy Quran. The national anthem was played, and national flag was jointly hoisted by the Muslim and Christian political and social leaders. Speakers highlighted the role religious minorities played in the creation and development of Pakistan.

At a seminar titled 'Vision for a Democratic and Peaceful Pakistan' speakers urged the government to follow in the footsteps of the founder of Pakistan and run the country according to his vision, with all citizens as one nation. His vision should be in the constitution so that Pakistan is a democratic and peaceful nation open to all its citizens without discrimination.

"However, today's reality is far from Ali Jinnah's vision," said Suneel Malik, a Christian activist and PHD director. "Hence, his legacy should be incorporated in the constitution".

"Religious minorities face many challenges," said Punjab Assemblyman Rana Afzal Khan, a Muslim, despite "the equality of rights which in theory applies to all Pakistanis." After all, "minorities have made major contributions to the birth of the nation." Communal relations are bound to improve over time so "we should not lose hope."

Reality is far from that. The ongoing exodus of hundreds of Hindu families proves it. In fact, as the country prepared for Independence Day, more than 300 families entered India at the Attari border crossing to escape abuse and persecution, including abduction, forced conversion and forced marriages.

Raj Kumar, a Hindu from Sindh, knows this all too well. His daughter was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam. "We were born in Pakistan," he said, "but we were never accepted as children of this land."

In 2011, 7,000 families emigrated to India according to official figures. At present, 5,000 more are waiting to cross the border.

Muslim leaders reject the claims as propaganda. For Jamat-e-Islami leader Syed Munawar Hassa, minorities enjoy equal rights. Pakistan, he said, "is the only nation in the world that protects minorities."

Yet, for a Taliban leader, "it is every Muslim's duty to increase the Ummah," even through forced conversions and violence.

(Jibran Khan contributed to the article)

• pakistan
• independence
• day
• christians
• muslims
• exodus
• hindus