ISLAMABAD: A Rawalpindi based Christian ‘Moderator’ of Presbyterian Church of Pakistan and human rights defender Amin Masih Khokhar has demanded the government to take action against those involved in various incidents of desecration of Christian symbol “Saleeb”.
In a statement on the eve of 11th August, which is observed every year as Minorities Day in Pakistan, Amin Masih Khokar, said when ugly incidents of desecration of Holy Quran surfaced in Sweden, the Christian community of Pakistan and their top spiritual leader Pope Francis condemned it in the strongest terms despite it was clear that the desecrator was not a Christian.
Besides, he said, whenever any incident of desecration of Holy Quran surfaced in any country of the world, the Christian community of Pakistan condemned it in the strongest possible terms.
He said incidents of desecrating the “Saleeb” openly on the roads injured the feelings of the Christian community. He said this was an offence and Article 295 A of the Constitution provides clear guidelines in this regards.
“Article 295-A states that, deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.–Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings, of any class of the citizens of Pakistan, by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representations insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to [Ten] years, or with fine or with both.
Amin Masih Khokhar said the minorities enjoy equal rights, thus the state should take action against those who were involved in desecration of the “Saleeb” and cases should be registered against them.
He said if the state does not take action against such evil elements, then the Christian community will think that the state was treating them as a step mother and it will create a sense of insecurity in them.
Ends-
Read more: Humayun Dilawar not expelled from University of Hull
