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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Time for Pakistan Christians to "Sell Our Garment and Buy a Sword" |
| 2004-06-12 |
| From the Pakistan Christian Post Bishop Timotheus Nasir said the Christian community has taken enough from Muslim majority. The murder of Samuel Salamat has forced us to rethink of our status and future in Pakistan. He said that the killing of Mr. Samuel Salamat is being seen as the âlast nail in the coffinâ. He was addressing a seminar at Lahore Press Club today organized by Pakistan Christian Party to stress upon government to repeal blasphemy laws. .... He said that there did exist religious discrimination in Pakistan before 1973 but it has increased since 1973. Talking about election systems in Pakistan, Bishop Nasir also said that the Joint Electorate System as demanded by the Roman Catholic and Protestant Bishops and imposed on us by the government of Pakistan has damaged the identity of Christians in Pakistan. He claimed that the Christian Community does not have a single representative in Senate, National or Provincial Assemblies. ... On âBlasphemy Lawsâ he suggested that these laws are very limited, and they should be expanded. He said that Section 295-B, 295-C, 298-A, should be amended as Pakistan Penal Code 295-B be amended as 295-B (I) for the Holy Koran and 295-B (II) for the Holy Bible, 295-C (I) for Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) and 295-C (II) for Lord Jesus Christ, Section 298-A, be amended as 298-A (I) for the pious wives of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) his family and righteous Caliphs or companions of the Prophet (PBUH) and 298-A-(II) for the Holy Mary and other pious women and the Apostle of Lord Jesus Christ. Bishop Nasir also added that the âHudood Ordinanceâ is a pure Islamic law and it should not be imposed on Christians, as we have our own laws that are better and more practicable. In the end the Bishop said that the time has almost come that we sell our garment and buy a sword. Yet we would not do it, we will yet not buy a âswordâ. Yet we have another choice. We shall surrender our ânationalityâ to the government of Pakistan so that we may show that at this moment we donât see any hope for our community in Pakistan. ... |
| Posted by:Mike Sylwester |