... In a truly Islamic state, which Pakistan is not, nor is it likely to be ... the majority is supposed to be the protector of non-Muslims ... A study of newspaper statements of political leaders reveals that Pakistan and its Muslim population have given unprecedented concessions and allowances to the minorities. Though if you ask the votaries of this claim to enumerate a few of these concessions, they are at a loss to do so. As for our maulvis, they think it is more than generous to let the minorities live in peace in the Muslim homeland. So what more do they want?
The whole atmosphere in the country as regards the attitude towards non-Muslims, as also the attitude of the adherents of one sect towards the followers of other sects, is so vitiated with intolerance that one now really marvels at what Mr. Jinnah did on 17th August of our year of birth, 1947 (if I have the date correct).
That day Jinnah and Fatimha Jinnah attended a special service in Karachi's Saint Patrick's Church. After the religious service, which was dedicated to the strength and welfare of the new state, Mr. Jinnah reiterated his resolve before the Christians of the city that there would be absolutely no discrimination between the Muslims and non-Muslims in Pakistan.
Elderly Christians and Parsis of Karachi remember how he assured them that Pakistan was as much their country as a new homeland for Muslims. Today they must be wondering which Pakistan Jinnah was talking about.
Can you imagine P.M. Nawaz Sharif attending a religious service in a C'urch today? Of course it is unthinkable for President Rafiq Tarar to do so. He would never dare ... The maulvis would tear him to shreds, and he would have to spend the rest of his life in Mecca and Medina trying to prove that he was a genuine Muslim. On the death anniversary of the Father of the Nation, both President Tarar and Sharif informed us that the best way to pay tribute to Jinnah was to follow in his footsteps. Are there different footsteps, one for the masses and one for the leaders.
... There is no defence against individual acts of fanatics, but the government and the nation as a whole should never allow themselves to fall below a certain level of civilised behaviour. Unfortunately, the steps taken to reinforce society through Islamic principles have tended towards making fanatics of the whole Muslim population.
Sometimes I wonder whether our minorities truly consider themselves as 100% Pakistanis ... In fact the question should be, :"Do we, the Muslims, make them feel by our attitude that they are Pakistanis"? The question is not irrelevant. The atmosphere pervading the entire country is so completely Muslim in its ambiance and impact that a non-Muslim appears to be ... alien and out of place .... (Source: The Indian Currents. 12-18 October 1998)