Our Community
Religion
Religious violence happens repeatedly in Pakistan, greatly affecting all parts of society. Our lives are guided by misconceptions of religion. Islam is the major religion, instilled, not only in most of our citizens, but also in our government and constitution. We are not allowed to criticize Islam, and those who are not Islamic cannot hold public office. It is not surprising that the common people have adopted attitudes of intolerance.
Ninety-five percent of Pakistanis are Muslim, having various sects. Their religious leaders have strong grips on the common people. Some leaders influence the people toward violence to promote their particular sects.
The brain-washing process is continued not only through religious institutions, but also through media and even the school syllabus. Religious extremists use religion as a political tool.
Schools
Our children do not get the opportunity to understand themes of peace, reconciliation, love and conflict resolution, so immersed are they in the “virtues” of violence. They are taught that virtue is to do good only to followers of their own religion or sect. The schools deter children from tolerance to the religious beliefs of the others.
We have not learned, as a country, to get along with people of differing beliefs. the values our children learn from their particular sect become strong parts of themselves. In many schools, the children of different sects do not even drink from the same glass. This secludes them to form their own parties as Sunni, Shiates, and Ahmedies. They do not mingle with one another because each one feels that they are better than the other. This division roots itself into the minds of the children, and some of them move toward terrorism in the process.
Christians are called Assai by other sects, a title that demeans them as lower class citizens. Before 1987, a bill was presented in the national assembly requiring separate dress for the minorities—black clothes for minorities, white for the majority. In 1993, minorities were required to line up separately from Muslims and their National Identity Cards also presented.
These situations have caused many parents of minority children to keep their children out of school. They fear that their child will learn hatred and intolerance. There is an urgent need to work for peace in our schools.
Treatment of Women
The possession and control of desirable commodities is closely linked with perception of man's honor. If his commodity is damaged, the father or husband, has a right to compensation. The concept of women as object or commodity is deeply rooted in tribal culture, which extends into our culture here in Faisalabad. The owner of property has the right to decide its fate.
Women must guard their virginity and chastity. By entering an adulterous relationship a woman subverts the order of things, undermines the ownership rights to her body and indirectly challenges the social order as a whole. The man to whom a woman belongs, whether a wife, sister or daughter, has to kill her to restore his honor. He is the victim as he has suffered loss first to his honor and then of the woman he has to kill. President Musharraf signed a bill making honor killing a crime punishable by death, but enforcement has been minimal.
Honor killings are but an extreme form of violence against women which is approved by wide sections of our society. Most domestic violence arises from the male conviction that women deserve it for insubordination.
Home and Family
Our families usually live together throughout their lives. Grandparents are usually welcomed into the homes of children and grandchildren, three and four generations often living together. We take care of our aging parents and provide for them throughout their lives. They are as much a part of our lives and families as our own children.
We are a hospitable people, taking in strangers and friends, providing for the needs of those less fortunate. Most of us are very poor and our lives are hard, but we see many smiles on faces from the friendships and sharing that we enjoy.
We are very devoted to our religions, even where some sects teach violence. Many of us pray five times every day.