Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Intro to ‘Justice Delayed is Justice Denied’
Intro by Editor: John R. Houk
Post date: August 12, 2015
Author: Shamim Masih
Shamim begins his exposure of the treatment of Christians in Pakistan by quoting a former Pakistani Supreme Court Justice in his first paragraph which I updated from an English language report on the Daily Times of Pakistan. Perhaps you should read the entire link because Dost Muhammad Khan laments the radical Islam as a doctrinal error overtaking Islam. That means that D.M. Khan is what we here about in the USA as a moderate Muslim believing the true Islam (actual quote: “the glorious and balanced philosophy and message of Islam”) is not the same faith as that practiced by a huge amount of Sunni Muslims in Pakistan.
I believe former Justice Khan is sincere of his perception of Islam; however if indeed his sincerity is actual his understanding of the Islam founded by the pseudo-prophet Mohammed and perpetuated for centuries by that theopolitical religion’s leaders (political and religious leadership was one and the same especially in Islam’s first thousand years or so) is actually represented primarily in the Quran as well as that document’s commentaries of Hadith and Sira. Those three termed together by Bill Warner as Islam’s trilogy (See Also HERE) reveal an ideology that is much closer to the practices exemplified by what the U.S. media often calls Radical Islam.
Shamim culminates his thoughts with the typical belief of all Pakistanis that believe they live in a nation founded upon equal rights for all religious beliefs:
“Is this the country, founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah dreamed for?”
One: Jinnah died shortly after the Islamic Republic of Pakistan was founded. Two: Jinnah’s successor leaders planted the seeds for the domination of Radical Sunni Islam in Pakistan. Three: I am uncertain of the actuality of Jinnah to an equal rights Pakistan (HERE is an anti-Jinnah video from a radical Sunni perspective).
Shamim’s dream of a secular social justice Pakistan based on the civil rights thoughts of Muhammad Ali Jinnah probably will not occur in Shamim Masih’s time.
After the Justice Khan quote Shamim proceeds to write of a few of the persecuted Christians beginning with Asia Bibi’s plight.
JRH 8/12/15
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Justice Delayed is Justice Denied
By Shamim Masih
Sent: 8/11/2015 4:07 PM
ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan Justice Dost Muhammad Khan “on Saturday said that God would judge each person deeds according to His justice; therefore, judges should render expeditious justice to litigant public and earn the pleasure of God.”
In June 2009, Asia Noreen, known as Asia Bibi lived in a village of Dist. Sheikhupura had arguments with Muslim women for drinking water in the same cup. She was subsequently accused of insulting the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, although she denied but was arrested and imprisoned. In November 2010, a judge sentenced her to death. Additionally, a fine of the equivalent of $1,000 was imposed with the verdict and thus mother of five became the first woman condemned to death in Pakistan on blasphemy charges.
In October 2014, her death sentence had been confirmed by the Lahore High Court – LHC. A month later, in November 2014, Asia Bibi filed an appeal in the Supreme Court as her final legal recourse, dashing hopes the conviction might be overturned or commuted to a jail term. After five year on the death row, in July 2015, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has suspended her execution given leave to appeal. But no hearing date was set.
The execution of Asia Bibi has been suspended and will remain suspended until the decision of this appeal, her lawyer told media outside the court. However Asia Bibi will remain in jail between life and death. Bibi’s blasphemy case has become the most controversial blasphemy case in the world. Although Pakistan has never executed anyone for blasphemy but some people accused of the offence in the past have been lynched by crowds. Lawyers, judges and those seeking to reform the blasphemy laws have been threatened, attacked or even killed.
Since General Zia ul Haq included the stringent blasphemy law in the constitution violence worsens in Pakistan. Thousands of the people have charged under this law since then. Prior to 1986, only 14 cases pertaining to blasphemy were reported. According to sources, 51 people accused of blasphemy were murdered before their respective trials were over.
Christians along with other minorities in Pakistan face discrimination and persecution by the state and fellow citizens. They are routinely accused of blasphemy and attacked or jailed. Their homes and churches are burned down; young girls are kidnapped, raped and are forcefully converted to Islam and married. If I do remember, since Shanti Nager violence, Christians find it nearly impossible to get justice from the state when they are harassed or discriminated against.
Since then thousands of the Christians have fled to U.N. refugee camps in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and other countries. Where they are mistreated and see no future even. To acquire Thai and Malaysian visas is not difficult. On the other hand European and the US does not allow any Pakistani Christian to enter in fearing they will go for asylum. Thus mostly they are refused even if they are genuine [persecuted refugees].
According to a report, the motive behind the Badamibagh, Lahore incident was a personal grudge, but Sawan Masih was sentenced to death accused of blasphemy. Many Christians are behind bars accused of the [reprisal] lynching [of Muslims] in Youhanabad. There are many laws and social norms firmly in place to ensure that Christians don’t dare think beyond what is prescribed for them.
This is very unfortunate that the judiciary, government and its law enforcement agencies are not serious to resolve minority issues and have failed to protect minorities while parliament had failed to end discrimination among all nations of the country. Is this the country, founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah dreamed for?
Be Blessed,
Shamim Masih
Correspondent,
Pakistan Today, (About Pakistan Today)
For Americans especially, I have discovered the best way to donate to Shamim Masih is via Western Union sending money with this LINK to a Western Union agent in Islamabad. Include Shamim’s phone - +92-300-642-4560
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Edited by John R. Houk
Any content embraced by brackets are by the Editor.
The only link within Shamim’s essay by the Editor is the quote by Dost Muhammad Khan.
© Shamim Masih
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