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The untouchables and slaves of Pakistan
by Rishi Fri May 24, 2013 9:14 pm
Economic consequences of exclusion
The process of minoritisation leads to economic and social
disempowerment. For example, economic persecution in the name of
religion was also carried out against the small Sikh minority in Orakzai
Agency. According to an editorial in The News on May 3, 2009: “The
Sikhs of Orakzai have lived in the agency for decades and by their own
admission have never faced any problems or harassment from the tribes.
However … after Hakeemullah Mehsud and his men descended on Orakzai and
established their own rule, the Sikhs of the agency have lived a
terrified existence. They have been veritably held at gunpoint and
forced to pay ‘jiziya’ but given the environment that this has happened
in, it is nothing but ransom money. The Sikhs were told that either they
all convert or they pay the tax. And this is reinforced by published
accounts of some of the Sikh family elders, one of whom was kidnapped
and tortured by the Orakzai Taliban. The Sikhs, who number not more than
a few dozen households, were fast asked to pay over a hundred million
rupees — an astronomical amount for any one.”
The economic consequences of political exclusion are discernible in
the case of two of the biggest ‘minorities’ in Pakistan — the Christians
and the Hindus. A majority of the Christians are located in Punjab
where they are engaged in sanitation and cleaning work. Very few members
of the Christian community are middle-class lawyers, teachers or
professionals. There is enormous social segregation and discrimination
as they have separate housing colonies and the Muslims tend to look down
upon them while treating them with scorn and disdain. A vast number of
Muslims avoid sharing eating and drinking utensils and shaking hands
with them or inviting them to their homes. Derogatory names are used to
refer to them and there is discrimination against them in hiring
practices. Social exclusion and religious prejudice keep them out of
lucrative jobs and positions, thus reinforcing their ‘inferior’ status.
This leads to a vicious circle of prejudice resulting in exclusion which
leads to more prejudice. Lack of economic and social power further
leads to absence of political power and vice versa.
The Hindus are mainly concentrated in rural Sindh where a large
number of them constitute bonded labour. They are mostly haris belonging
to scheduled castes (Kohlis and Bheels among others) who work on the
lands of waderas (feudal landlords). The majority of Hindus in interior
Sindh live a life of virtual slavery. The landlords can make them work
long hours with little in return and they do not have the power to
challenge the system or the wadera whose armed goons threaten them with
dire consequences if they disobey. Their daughters are kidnapped, forced
to accept Islam and marry a Muslim. This practice, supported by some
leading political families in the province, has led to the mass exodus
of Hindus to neighbouring India. They are oppressed not only at the
hands of the Muslims but also upper-caste Hindus. There are very few
middle-class Hindus engaged in law, medicine or teaching. They are
forced to practice their professions with extreme care and caution for
fear of being harassed by Muslims. They find it difficult to teach their
religion to their children who are forced to learn Islamic lessons in
school. They are forced to either vote for a particular candidate or
made to desist from voting for some other. They can exercise their right
to vote freely only at the risk of violence by the goons of the
landlord.
The process of minoritisation leads to economic and social
disempowerment. For example, economic persecution in the name of
religion was also carried out against the small Sikh minority in Orakzai
Agency. According to an editorial in The News on May 3, 2009: “The
Sikhs of Orakzai have lived in the agency for decades and by their own
admission have never faced any problems or harassment from the tribes.
However … after Hakeemullah Mehsud and his men descended on Orakzai and
established their own rule, the Sikhs of the agency have lived a
terrified existence. They have been veritably held at gunpoint and
forced to pay ‘jiziya’ but given the environment that this has happened
in, it is nothing but ransom money. The Sikhs were told that either they
all convert or they pay the tax. And this is reinforced by published
accounts of some of the Sikh family elders, one of whom was kidnapped
and tortured by the Orakzai Taliban. The Sikhs, who number not more than
a few dozen households, were fast asked to pay over a hundred million
rupees — an astronomical amount for any one.”
The economic consequences of political exclusion are discernible in
the case of two of the biggest ‘minorities’ in Pakistan — the Christians
and the Hindus. A majority of the Christians are located in Punjab
where they are engaged in sanitation and cleaning work. Very few members
of the Christian community are middle-class lawyers, teachers or
professionals. There is enormous social segregation and discrimination
as they have separate housing colonies and the Muslims tend to look down
upon them while treating them with scorn and disdain. A vast number of
Muslims avoid sharing eating and drinking utensils and shaking hands
with them or inviting them to their homes. Derogatory names are used to
refer to them and there is discrimination against them in hiring
practices. Social exclusion and religious prejudice keep them out of
lucrative jobs and positions, thus reinforcing their ‘inferior’ status.
This leads to a vicious circle of prejudice resulting in exclusion which
leads to more prejudice. Lack of economic and social power further
leads to absence of political power and vice versa.
The Hindus are mainly concentrated in rural Sindh where a large
number of them constitute bonded labour. They are mostly haris belonging
to scheduled castes (Kohlis and Bheels among others) who work on the
lands of waderas (feudal landlords). The majority of Hindus in interior
Sindh live a life of virtual slavery. The landlords can make them work
long hours with little in return and they do not have the power to
challenge the system or the wadera whose armed goons threaten them with
dire consequences if they disobey. Their daughters are kidnapped, forced
to accept Islam and marry a Muslim. This practice, supported by some
leading political families in the province, has led to the mass exodus
of Hindus to neighbouring India. They are oppressed not only at the
hands of the Muslims but also upper-caste Hindus. There are very few
middle-class Hindus engaged in law, medicine or teaching. They are
forced to practice their professions with extreme care and caution for
fear of being harassed by Muslims. They find it difficult to teach their
religion to their children who are forced to learn Islamic lessons in
school. They are forced to either vote for a particular candidate or
made to desist from voting for some other. They can exercise their right
to vote freely only at the risk of violence by the goons of the
landlord.
Rishi- Posts : 5129
Join date : 2011-09-02
Re: The untouchables and slaves of Pakistan
by Marathadi-Saamiyaar Fri May 24, 2013 9:21 pm
The IAG of SuCH approves the above message (The Islamic Apologist Group)
Marathadi-Saamiyaar- Posts : 17675
Join date : 2011-04-30
Age : 110
Re: The untouchables and slaves of Pakistan
by Rishi Fri May 24, 2013 9:25 pm
Read more on
http://herald.dawn.com/2013/05/24/strangers-in-the-house-2.html
http://herald.dawn.com/2013/05/24/strangers-in-the-house-2.html
Rishi- Posts : 5129
Join date : 2011-09-02
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