Hindu Community of Pakistan outraged after 3 men where assassinated on Eid! Eid!

Medical professionals killed for alleged rape despite lack of evidence.  Rural Justice circumvents existing policing structures!

On Eid day (Monday 7th October) unidentified gunmen opened fire on a clinic killing three members of the Hindu community including a doctor and two businessmen and injuring two others.

Dr Ajit Kumar, Naresh Kumar and Ashok Kumar where identified as the victims of the killing spree.  A doctor Satahpal has also sustained a gunshot wound and is being cared for in a Karachi Hospital.

The final rites of the dead took place on Tuesday at the Sathu Bela temple near Sukkur.  

On Tuesday the Express tribune of Pakistan described the incident:

The Hindu community in Shikarpur had been in conflict with the Muslim Bhayo community over an alleged case of sexual assault. The Muslim community alleged that three members of the Hindu community had sexually assaulted a girl from their community a few weeks ago and the Muslim community wanted to exact revenge.

The two communities had been locked in talks seeking a compromise. The three boys from the Hindu community were arrested after a police raid found them together with a hired dancing girl. Before a resolution could be reached, gunmen fired upon and killed a Hindu doctor and two businessmen, relatives to the arrested Hindu men.

Dr Pardeep, a relative of the victims, told The Express Tribune that people belonging to the Bhayo community used to extort the Hindu community passing around “chits” to the Hindu families in the Chak town with demands inscribed. While the extortion sum had been paid on numerous occasions, the community had stopped giving the sum for the past few months. “They would ask us to either pay the money or face consequences,” Dr Pradeep added.

“It was a high profile case (the arrests) and people of Bhayo community were seeking revenge from the Hindus,” Pitanbar Sewani, an elected representative of the Hindu community belonging to Sukkur district said. Hindu community alleged that despite numerous requests, the Police had failed to provide them with adequate protection, “we have asked the police for protection many times, but DPO Shikarpur did not listen to us,” he said.

With regards to the case and charges of sexual assault on those arrested, Sewani said that there was no medical report that proved rape had taken place, “we tried our best for a compromise to be reached and avert any bloodshed, however people of the Bhayo community refused and said they will take revenge,” he said.

The case has gained significance with ministers and MNA being sent to look into the matter with apparently direct orders from President Zardari himself. Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Ramesh Lal and Sindh Minister for Minority Affairs Dr Mohan Lal Kohistani attended the final rites of the deceased. Afterwards, while speaking to the media, they said that they had arrived on the directives of President Zardari and assured the Hindu community that the culprits would be arrested soon.

Talking to The Express Tribune DIG Larkana Saen Rakhio Mirani said that they had arrested 13 suspects. “The relatives of deceased have not lodged a case. Once a case is lodged we will arrest the culprits irrespective of what their influence is,” he said.

Meanwhile, various nationalist parties in Sindh have demanded the arrest of the gunmen within 72 hours, following which they will announce a province wide strike.

The BPCA calls on Christians to pray for this beleaguered community and condemns the violence. There are legal protocols to follow when accusing others of a crime, the vigilante behaviour shown by the Bhayo Muslim community simply cannot be condoned and highlights the low value of minority faith people in Pakistan.  The BPCA hopes the Pakistani government will complete its duty to the Hindu community, and arrest the culprits of this audacious crime.  Moreover, we shall be emailing the High Commissioner for Pkaistan in the UK, calling for adequate protection to  be provided to this community, so they can safely challenge for justice.

Pakistan’s Educational System Fuels Religious Discrimination

A new study sponsored by the U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and conducted by the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (ICRD) found that Pakistan’s public schools and madrassas negatively portray the country’s religious minorities and reinforce biases which fuel acts of discrimination, and possibly violence, against these communities. 

“This study – the first-ever study of its kind -- documents how Pakistan’s public schools and privately-run madrassas are not teaching tolerance but are exacerbating religious differences,” said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair. “Education reform incorporating religious tolerance is critical to the development of a society that values human rights, including religious freedom, for all its citizens. Teaching discrimination increases the likelihood that violent religious extremism in Pakistan will continue to grow, weakening religious freedom, national and regional stability, and global security.”

Titled “Connecting the Dots:  Education and Religious Discrimination in Pakistan,” the study involved the examination of social studies, Islamic studies, and Urdu textbooks and pedagogical methods in Pakistan’s public school system and its madrassa system, and the interviewing of teachers and students about their views on religious minorities. The goal of the year-long study was to explore linkages between the portrayal of religious minorities in public schools and madrassas, biases that exist against these minorities, and subsequent acts of discrimination or extremist violence.

The study found that –

• Public school textbooks used by all children often had a strong Islamic orientation, and Pakistan’s religious minorities were referenced derogatorily or omitted altogether;
• Hindus were depicted in especially negative terms, and references to Christians were often inaccurate and offensive;
• Public school and madrassa teachers had limited awareness or understanding of religious minorities and their beliefs, and were divided on whether religious minorities were citizens;
• Teachers often expressed very negative views about Ahmadis, Christians, and Jews, and successfully transmitted these biases to their students;
• Interviewees’ expressions of tolerance often were intermixed with neutral and intolerant comments, leaving some room for improvement.

ICRD and its partner, the independent Pakistani think tank Sustainable Development Policy Institute, reviewed more than 100 textbooks from grades 1 through 10 from Pakistan’s four provinces. Students and teachers from public schools and madrassas were also interviewed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab. Thirty-seven middle and high schools were visited, with 277 students and teachers interviewed individually or in group settings.  Researchers interviewed 226 madrassa students and teachers from 19 madrassas.

CLICK HERE TO READ REPORT

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent, bipartisan U.S. government commission separate from the State Department, has actively monitored the rise across Pakistan of violent religious extremism that targets religious minorities as well as members of the Muslim majority. USCIRF has concluded that promoting respect for freedom of religion or belief must be an integral part of advancing regional security in South Asia. The conflict with violent religious extremists in Pakistan requires the United States to understand the roots of this extremism and actively bolster those who respect democratic values, the rule of law, and international standards of human rights, including freedom of religion or belief.  Education reform is a key part of this effort.

Sign our petition:

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/aidtoaffectchange

General Musharraf states that Pakistan's relationship with the US is at it's lowest ebb!

Not Convincing!

Former President of Pakistan categorically stated that "I have never been a politician" when asked if he was incriminated in Imaran Khan's statement "if you have had power in Pakistan before you have been a crook a criminal".   Earlier in the interview Stephen Sackur quoted the existing Chief Minister of the Punjab who said "during your years national wealth was looted with both hands during Musharraf's reign."

Musharraf responded by questioning the Chief Minister of Pakistan's motives saying "he is my enemy"  Stephen Sackur also described a report by  "Transparency International" which indicated that the perception of corruption in Pakistan had increased. while Musharraf was in power. Musharraf highlighted to Mr Sackur that no corruption charges had been laid against him.

This rather surprising comment By Former President of Pakistan General Musharraf  was a consequence of  a TV interview on BBC's Hard talk on the 9th November 2011. The comment is surprising as a description of the interview below the BBC I- Player link talks of a comeback to political power in Pakistan for Musharraf, surely that makes him a politician?

"Former Pakistani President Musharraf is seeking a comeback. Currently he's an exile, he faces trial if he returns, so why does he think he is the solution to Pakistan's problems?"

At the beginning of the interview Musharraf  stated that he believed their was increasing support for his return in Pakistan.  He said; "When I resigned and left I know a lot of people were crying in the country". Mr Sackur questioned him on a previous statement from him and asked him if there was a yearning for him in Pakistan?  Musharraf responded by saying, "it is developing"

Musharraf  was asked to explain why he had said "I sincerely apologise to the country for the negative repercussions for decisions that were taken".  His reply alluded to his involvement in ratifying the National Reconcilliation Ordinance by force, which led to deepening instability in Paksitan.  Read more here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Reconciliation_Ordinance

Stephen Sackur described how during Musharraf's reign the country had sank into "turmoil and chaos...in America it became routinely labelled as the most dangerous in the world"

Musharraf spoke of the improved socio-economic position of the country whilst under his leadership.

Musharraf was qustioned on comments made by him to a US Think tank "There is despondency in Pakistan and the place people go to in that situation is the military". Mr Sackur asked Musharraf if this meant that he believed the Pakistan Army should be involved in Pakistani politics.  Musharraf intimated that he did believe this to be a positive response to the situation in Pakistan, despite his previous comments.

In another recent BBC documentary termed "Secret Pakistan" a strong case was put forward for a duplicitous nature in the relationship Pakistan had with both the coalition forces and the Taliban, during  Musharraf's reign.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b016ltpv/Secret_Pakistan_Double_Cross/

Hard Talk's Mr Sackur questioned Musharraf on Osama's residence in Pakistan and his lack of knowledge of this.  Musharraf believed this to be an honest mistake and described how Pakistan had located all the lead Taliban officers from priority number 3 downwards and suffered many casualties. Musharraf also stated that he had a good relationship with President Bush and General Colin Powell.

Mr Sackur described how American secret intelligence have grave concerns about the relationship with Pakistan from the outset and also referred to Musharraf's very public comment referring to coercing by the American's to ensure he joined the coalition.  Mr Sackur said "You played both sides at the same time did not give up you commitment to the Taliban".  When speaking of Musharraf's relationship with Colin Powell he said, "You were told that if Pakistan did not join the Coalition that you would be bombed back to the stone age."

A debate on Mullah Omar's presence in Pakistan and the assumed regular convening of the Taliban leaders in Quetta (Quetta Shura), resulted in Musharraf attempting to dispel such a proposition based on Mullah Omar's need to be with his command force in Afganistan. Musharraf said, "Why would he be in Pakistan and not leading his people in Afghanistan?"


General Musharraf spoke of how Pakistan;s relationship with America was now at it's lowest ebb.  I have to agree wholeheartedly with his assessment, however, without question I believe that Musharraf during his regime contributed significantly to this particular erosion.


See full Hard Talk interview here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/hardtalk/9634634.stm

David Cameron Talks of getting tough on Countries who receive Foreign aid and persist with Human Right abuses.

In a remarkably frank interview with Andrew Marr on overseas aid to the Commonwealth on Sunday 30th October, David Cameron raised concern over the nature and intensity of Human Rights abuses on Homosexual and Faith/Christian communities living in Commonwealth countries.

The most striking comment that will no doubt bolster campaigners seeking equality and justice in Pakistan openly described an assessment criteria for aid. Mr Cameron said;


“British aid should have more strings attached in terms of do you persecute people for their faith or their Christianity or do you persecute people for their sexuality.”

Describing how Britain is now one of the premier aid givers in the world he spoke of the desire to see the aid used to improve rights for those suffering persecution, at one point stating "it will determine our aid policy".

The BPCA commends David Cameron on this recent stance which is commensurate with the petition we submitted to 10 Downing Street.  The manner in which David Cameron spoke suggests a much stronger stance will be implemented when assessing foreign aid distribution with a clear link to human rights performance.  This is a small step to what we believe will become a significant lever for change in Pakistan.

You can view our previously submitted 10 Downing Street petition here:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/5009

You can still sign our global petition for a review of  British foreign aid budget to Pakistan here:

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/noukaidtopakistan

View the BBC interview here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/andrew_marr_show/default.stm

Christian Woman sentenced to 25 years for 'defiling Quran'

BPCA has been alerted this prayer request coming from 'International Christian Concern' :

We're asking for urgent prayer on behalf of Ruqqiya Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for "defiling the Qur'an" by touching it with unwashed hands. After eight months in prison, she is now applying to be freed on bail.

We are hopeful that her appeal will be granted - her husband, Munir, who was also imprisoned for the same crime, was released on bail in December of last year.

Please pray:

• For the judge to grant the bail to Ruqqiya during the hearing on November 10.

• For the safety of Munir Masih. Though he has been freed on bail, he still faces vigilante attacks at the hands of radical Muslims.

• For the children of Ruqqiya and Munir to be comforted and strengthened by God as they witness the injustice suffered by their parents.

• For Pakistani Christians to continue in their faith in Christ as they face increasing persecution.

BPCA supporter mentions work in guest blog

Charmaine - blog host

One of the supporters of BPCA has used an opportunity to guest write an article called 'Jerusalem - Well spring of creativity' for a US Christian blog. He has used it in part to mention the work of the BPCA.

Thank you Charmaine for graciously hosting the article

UK Madrassah Blues?

Radio 4 aired a report last night about Maddrassah's in the UK. These are additional Muslim schools were Muslim children are taught the Koran, and are made to memorize it. The report aired concerns that these institutions are entirely unregulated and unsupervised. The rules and child protection regimes that apply to schools etc, do not apply to them. No CRB checks are required on the staff (normally volunteers), nor inspections of the institutions. Corporal punishment is allowed. About 1/4 million children go to these Madrassahs, of which there are an estimated 3500 in the UK. Freedom of information requests have revealed that there have been at least 400 allegations of physical abuse since 2009, of which only 10 have gone to court, and there have been only 2 successful prosecutions. In the same period, there have been 30 cases raised of sexual abuse, of which there have been 3 prosecutions, only one of which was successful. In one case a head of one of these schools had previously been convicted of child sex abuse and imprisoned in the past, yet he was in charge of the institution, had never had a CRB check. Of particular note to Pakistani Christians is the way the actions of the community match the experience of Christians. In one case, several children reported a respected imam when he sexually abused them. Police were called and the imam eventually convicted and sentenced to 16 years in prison. However, the victims were continually teased, ridiculed, shamed, and they and their families underwent threats and intimidation. This was a repeated theme - that parents were pressurised to keep quiet and not go to the police, over cases of physical and sexual abuse. They had to not bring shame on Islam, and that if they went to the authorities or spoke out they would be 'doing as the enemies of Islam do'. This is evidence of the Sharia-mindset that results in attacks and death threats against converts to Christianity, and even the families of such converts from the Islamic community, of which Pakistani's are a significant subset.

In addition it strongly suggests that this Sharia-type mindset means that the significant portions of the Islamic community are complicit in covering up serious criminal matters, including physical and sexual abuse of children, and this needs to be addressed. It amply demonstrates the dangers of tolerance towards Sharia law, and the need to rigorously enforce the principle of one law for all - UK law.

You can listen to the program or read a written version There is a further related article here.