Hindu/Christian pro-LeT rallies were stage managed

Minorities slam pro-Jamaatud Dawa rallies in Sindh

By Mohammed Rizwan

LAHORE: A leading Christian organisation in Punjab has condemned the pro-Jamatud Dawa rallies by Christians and Hindus in Sindh, particularly haris of Thar, saying that it was an ‘establishment-sponsored’ ploy to glorify the JD.

“We have nothing to do with Jamaatud Dawa or any of its subsidiaries, and we see it as a ploy to steer JD clear of hot waters,” said National Commission of Justice and Peace (NCJP) Executive Secretary Peter Jacob.

The US State Department put the JD, and its welfare wing Idara-e-Khidmat-e-Khalaq, on its watch list recently, which resulted in a handful of Christians and Hindu peasants gathering in front of the Hyderabad and Karachi Press Clubs to show their support for the party, on Monday and Tuesday. Sources say these peasants were absolutely illiterate and yet they were carrying placards and banners written in English, adding that they were most probably paid to hold the placards and banners.

“These are age-old tactics used to paint minorities as if they are in favour of religious organisations, but this is not the case,” said Jacob, adding, “In the past too, we had so-called leaders in the Christian community who were thick with state organisations and religious parties, and brought a bad name to Christians. A similar thing is happening now.” “I demand the government stop manipulating minorities for its benefit,” he said.

JD however said the people of Thar had an ‘age-old’ association with the party, and the rallies were a natural show of support. “We have been working with the desert communities of Thar that consist of Hindus and Christians, who felt the need and demonstrated in our favour,” said Yahya Mujahid, a JD spokesman from Karachi.

“Putting JD on the watch list was not a welcome decision for religious parties, and the Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam have expressed their solidarity with JD, although verbally,” said Mujahid when asked why JD’s natural religious allies were not holding the rallies. “I don’t think the minorities of Punjab will come out for JD because there are no big development efforts by JD there,” he added.