Isphanyar M Bhandara, Member of Pakistan's National Commission for Minorities and MLA from Rawalpindi, talks to dna while on a visit to Mumbai on Sunday.
Member of Pakistan's National Commission for Minorities and MLA from Rawalpindi, Isphanyar M Bhandara was in Mumbai on Sunday. Bhandara, who also heads one of Pakistan's top breweries, was here to attend a business exhibition, and to speak about the condition of minorities in his country at an event organised by think-tank Observer Research Foundation. Just before his talk, dna's Yogesh Pawar caught up with him for an interview. Excerpts...
The twin Lahore church blasts which have killed 14 and injured 55, underline, again, the siege under which minorities in Pakistan live..
A. This is most unfortunate and I join the PM Nawaz Sharif in condemning the attack. Brutalities like these can do no good for anyone. This should not be used, however, to vilify an entire religion, region or community. That would only make things worse.
As a Parsi how does it feel to be here in Mumbai?
A. Whether it's for religious, political or business purposes, coming to India always feels good. I was in Mumbai for the India Glass Exhibition, in connection with my business. And unlike going somewhere in Europe, coming here always feels special because of the food. There's the ghar jaisa dal roti and then there's Dhansak which tastes really special here.
Do you have family here?
A. Well not directly-related family. But you know how it is. No Parsi anywhere in the world can say that they don't know someone in the extended family among the Mumbai Parsis.
This Wednesday Chief Counsel, American Center for Law and Justice, Jay Alan Sekulow, said in his testimony before a Senate Committee: "Pakistan's blasphemy laws provide a tool for majority Muslims to persecute minorities and to settle personal scores, the government doesn't provide adequate protection to its vulnerable citizens and gives a free hand to the culprits." Your reaction.
A. To begin with we must be very clear that blasphemy of any revered deity, prophet or respected leader is wrong. But I know that this is often used to settle scores, grab land, etc. Unfortunately the state has been very weak in changing the law. And this is not only the current PML government which I am a part of. Successive governments have had to deal with considerable resistance whenever they have even suggested a re-look at the laws. Christian legislator from Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, Handery Masih, tried very hard, and it left him with 28 bullets in his chest.
Even rogue elements are aware of how much of a bad name Pakistan is getting internationally because of such misuse of blasphemy laws. Yet, it is not stopping. That's really unfortunate.
So Pakistan will continue to engage in and tolerate systematic and ongoing violations of freedom of religion?
A. What can one say? The point is if anyone tries to raise this issue, he'll get shot dead or he'll simply lose his seat. The only bright spot is that there is growing awareness about these issues and the media in my country, too, does not tolerate this any more. It is not about whether ours is a weak government or not. It is just too politically sensitive an issue for anyone to touch. One can only hope that this issue goes beyond TV debates and gets actually discussed and (addressed) in the assembly.
Among those persecuted for their religious beliefs, the Ahmadiyas are the worst off.
A. It is really sad but we have no political representation of the Ahmadiyas at all in Pakistan. The majority Muslims are intolerant of the Ahmadiyas because they see them as more dangerous than say a Hindu or a Jew or a Parsi. My Muslim friends tell me that they know that the others pray to a different God. The Ahmadiyas, they insist on calling themselves Muslim and yet they refuse to accept Mohammed as the last prophet.
Can a government which enjoys a cosy rapport with army-supported terror groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and other non-state players, ever do anything about this?
A. I must admit I'm at a complete loss as to how I should answer this. Anyone, anywhere, condoning terror attacks can be nothing but wrong.
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