Some but not all Pakistani Christians can celebrate Easter
Despite a decision by the National Assembly to allow Christians to celebrate Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, some members of the religious minority, such as sanitation workers, continue to be subject to discrimination. Still, the decision is a step forward for the equality of all citizens under the law.
Faisalabad (AsiaNews) – As Easter approaches, people are still talking about the decision of Pakistan’s NPunjab Government to make Easter a paid holiday for Christians, covering Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
Christians as well as some Muslim activists have welcomed the decision, calling it a step forward for the equality of all citizens under the law. Yet, despite the change, discrimination against some Christians continues.
The Government's decision “is an indication and recognition of the equal rights of all citizens,” said Shazia George, professor emeritus at Stockholm University and a visiting professor at the Government College, Lahore.
“The wisdom of this region, down the ages, has been that the ruler has been considered the protector of all communities. This is the South Asian model.ˮ However, “In 1947 this model was severely harmed when religious partisanship became a feature of the Pakistani state. The harm it did is all too easily seen if we look around.”
Now “This move will contribute to improve confidence among minorities that the government is serious about addressing their needs and issues,” said Shazia George, a women’s rights advocate and a member of the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women.
For Naseem Anthony, programme director at the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM), "such religious freedom will ensure public acceptance of religious minorities, strengthen relations between different faiths in Pakistan, and contribute to peaceful coexistence through the acceptance of diversity.”
Still, not all Christians can take time off as a result of the Government’s decision. For instance, sanitation workers at the Faisalabad Waste Management Company (FWMC) had to work on Good Friday and will work on Easter Monday.
“Despite the government’s decision authorising Christians to have time off at Easter, the FWMC has required that Christian sanitary workers work on Good Friday and Easter Monday. This is discrimination against poor sanitary workers,” said Abrar Younas, a Christian who heads the Labour and Staff Union in Faisalabad.
Therefore, “I appeal to Mr Shahbaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab, to take note of this."
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