Attack on mosques points to a pattern in Pakistan

On Friday afternoon, two main Ahmediya mosques in Lahore, Pakistan, came under a brutal coordinated attack when the places of worship were crowded with worshippers for the weekly congregation. The incident once again brought into sharp focus the plight of religious minorities in Pakistan.

The mosques, Baitul Zikr in Garhi Shahu and Baitul Noor in Model Town Block C, were targeted by Tehrike Taliban who later claimed responsibility for this heinous act. They arrived as Friday prayers were going to start. The police reports from Model Town that 23 worshippers were killed as two terrorists blew themselves up while two others were captured. Some 40 people were injured, 12 seriously.

At the Baitul Zikr mosque 52 bodies of worshippers have been removed so far. The death toll may rise as the condition of many of the victims is reported to be critical.

The Parliamentary Human Rights Group recently sent a mission to Pakistan to investigate the treatment of religious minorities, and their preliminary report, issued just before the election, called attention to the widespread intimidation and violence perpetrated against the Ahmadis.

Independent reports suggest that in Punjab, and Lahore in particular, the Muslim League provincial government is aligned with extremist groups such as the Khatme Nabuwwat, Jamaat-e-Dawa and other banned organisations which openly incite religious hatred and violence. This atrocious attack on worshippers during Friday prayers was an organised crime waiting to happen, and the federal government must take responsibility for its failure to deal with the incessant barrage of hate speeches by these groups targeting the peaceful Ahmadiyya Muslims.

The root cause of the violence lies in the specific anti-Ahmadiyya laws  the 1984 Ordinance XX of the dictator Zia ul-Haq which encourages the universal discrimination and repression and assassination of Ahmadis and repeated terrorist attacks against their places of worship.

The time has come when the civilised society should take notice and insist on the Government of Pakistan to repeal discriminatory laws and bring Pakistan into the democratic main-stream. Mere condemnation is not enough. The specific anti-Ahmadiyya laws, blasphemy laws and electoral laws need to be abolished if Pakistan is to be known as 'Democratic ' country.

Rare honour

Dolar Popat joins elite club

Dr. Rami Ranger MBE, FRSA

Dolar Popat will join the ranked, titled and privileged few by accepting a seat in the House of Lords as a Conservative Peer. Dolar's elevation to the Upper House of British Parliament will take his rise from a waiter in a London restaurant to one of the highest offices in the country. He was the personal choice of David Cameron, the Conservative Leader who has known Dolar for some time.

It is rare to see someone as successful in business as Lord Popat devoting his valuable time for the uplift of his community and country. He benefits the nation in more ways than one. As a devout Hindu and a staunch nationalist he defines himself in a one-liner: "Proud to be Hindu and proud to be British". He believes that it is a prerequisite for success to be loyal to the country where one lives and has made it a home.

Lord Popat is a Ugandan Asian who arrived for studies and could not return as Asians were expelled from Ugnada by General Idi Amin plunging the country into an unparalleled crisis.

Britain under the then Conservative Government, received these beleaguered and destitute Ugandan Asians with open arms. These Asians, as we know, worked hard and boosted the British economy. They became successful as a result  of the British tolerance and fair    play. Today, Britain without the Asians will not be the Britain as we know it. The Asians have become invaluable asset to the nation in every sense of the word.

Dolar has never forgotten this act of kindness by the then Conservative Government and set about repaying his debt to the Party. He once met Rhodes Boyson MP through one of the community leaders, Mr Shantoo Ruparell MBE in 1980. The rest, as they say is history. For Dollar, there was no looking back ever since as he has been working for the party quietly and diligently.

I have known Dolar for nearly 25 years and often called him the original Asian Tory because those days we were a struggling community and the Tory Party was perceived to be the party of the rich and the elite. Undeterred by adverse views about the party, Dolar kept on chipping away at the hostility against the party.

I too joined the Party because of the persuasion of Dolar and Ranbir Suri who is now the Chairman of the British Asian Conservative Link. Owing to their efforts the Party has become Asian friendly and Asians, Tory friendly.

David Cameron went out of his way to encourage Asians to stand for Parliament, having seen the loyalty and integrity of people like Dolar and Ranbir for the country. The party is now engaged with the Asian Community as never before.

Needless to say, how wrong it is in a democracy to have a major political party which does not reflect the makeup of the present day Britain. Moreover, if in a democracy everyone has a share, then in a democratic party, everyone should also have a share, regardless of their education, wealth, colour, race or religion.

I am confident that Lord Popat will make the party even stronger and our community proud, simply because he has a unique position within his community from where he derives strength. He is held by everyone in high esteem. He is a generous person and is always ready to help a worthy cause, not only with his time but also with his money.

He believes that it is the Hindu religion which has given him the vision and strength to do good to mankind. He takes inspiration from Morari Bapu, a renowned Hindu spiritual leader. I recall him inviting David Cameron to meet Bapu. David's speech was heard by thousands of Hindus who came to pay their respect to Morari Bapu and also seen by millions on YouTube throughout the world. It is still available on the Hindu Forum of Britain website www.hfb.org.uk

Lord Popat has a long history of public service but has always kept a very low profile. To some degree, this will change as being a Peer, he will be under the spotlight of not only his political rivals but also the Press and the Media. His wife, Sandhya Ji has always stood by him and will now find herself working even harder for Dolar, the party and the community. We are proud and fortunate to have remarkable people like Dolar and Sandhya Ji who put the interests of others above their business and family. A community is as great as its leaders and we are lucky to have such a leader who will raise the profile of his community with his personal examples and work.

top