ICC Note: Church leaders in Pakistan stated recently that the country must return to its roots of religious tolerance and respect. On National Minorities Day, a Catholic Church leader said that Pakistan was founded under the assumption of respect for all religions, but since then, that respect has been forgotten as religious intolerance and violence has taken its place. The majority of the population of Pakistan are Muslim, Christians representing one of the minorities that faces significant persecution and discrimination, with the Pakistani government perpetuating part of the problem with discriminatory laws while also turning a blind eye to Christian persecution.

08/16/2016, Pakistan (AsiaNews.it) – On National Minorities Day, Msgr. Arshad Joseph, bishop of Faisalabad, calls for “non-Muslim groups to be included as part of society in recognition of their merits”. The Archbishop of Lahore says that “the founder of Pakistan had promised respect for all religions, but now we are in the throes of intolerance”.

Non-Muslim citizens “have played a vital role in the formation of Pakistan. Not only they gave their lives for freedom but still continue to fight for nation building. This is why their concerns must be addressed by the government”, said Msgr. Arshad Joseph, bishop of Faisalabd and president of the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace, during the celebration of the National Minorities Day yesterday.

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