Christian Media Organization

Love God,love doing good

[christianmediaorganization]

Problem within Christian Community By: Hamza

Drinking problems amongst Christian community is seen worldwide but in Pakistan, it keeps increasing as years pass by. It appears every Easter/Christmas, a vast number of Christians end up in Hospital emergencies due to overdrinking and consuming expired Alcohol.

The utilization of wine and alcohol is more social than strict in most non-Islamic social orders. Yet at the same time in two entirely gone against camps, a way of thinking known as the 'matured' bunch demands the incorporation of wine in a Christian's life as a basic need of the Christian confidence. In spite of the reasonable lessons of the Bible against the utilization of wine and alcohol, the disruptive idea of the two contradictory methodologies keeps the issue murky. In any case, most of Christians unequivocally go against the utilization of alcohol. The Scripture is plainly against the utilization of liquor, however there are sure references that are philosophically not appropriately perceived, and due to these scriptural and text based inner conflicts, the human instinct generally tracks down an escape clause to legitimize its demonstrations.

Christians have prescriptive norms regarding alcohol use, with alcohol integrated into rituals such as religious ceremonies. Guidelines or restrictions on amount or purpose of alcohol use beyond during religious ceremonies are vague, with Catholic dogma being considered tolerant of a range of drinking including heavy drinking (Beigel and Ghertner, 1977; Greeley, 1980; Pittman and Snyder, 1962).

“Nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”(1 Corinthians 6:10.)

Christian community members have been going through this problem since a long time now. Firstly, it was only restricted to their households as they used to consume it within their homes but it effected their families as they misbehaved and abused them. Now, it is an issue that is being highlighted on a National level as many news channels cover their stories.

Figure 1: NY Times Headline

The Prohibition Order in 1977 established the sale of alcohol to Muslims as illegal in Pakistan. This ordinance also laid that the licensed trade of liquor could take place through members of non-Muslim communities. This explains why a large chunk of Christian youth possess liquor permits – widely seen as a ‘filthy piece of paper’.

As it makes liquor not easily accessible in Pakistan. Whereas Pakistani Christians are allowed consumption of liquor and can easily access the license issued by Government. Therefore many young Christians, don’t just consume it but also sell it to their non-Christian alias. Due to which they also get caught in Police raids.  On being asked why they are willing to take such a risk and face the severe situations, a young boy who requested unrecognizability replied, “We just want to earn a living”.

This is the greatest ever escape clause in the constitution of Pakistan that for the sake of non-Muslims, the greater part of community is continually able to overstep the law yet seldom captured by the authorities.

[christianmediaorganization]

News Article

Christian Discrimination a serious issue!

By ShahZaib

Employment discrimination against Christians is a serious issue for human rights situation in Pakistan. Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Shias and Ahmadis all minorities often face different discriminary actions and sometimes they are subjected to violence

Christians have continued to suffer targeted violence, such as land grabbing forced blasphemy and the vandalization of their homes and churches. Like other minorities Christians have faced discrimination and victimisation throughout Pakistan history. Since 2001 the violence and discrimination increased against Christians in Pakistan

Christians are also facing employment discrimination and they are getting limited jobs. Despite having a 5% minority quota in government jobs they find it unfilled. They mainly got the job only in lowest grades like sanitary work and garbage collection. Mostly Christians in Pakistan are poor working in menial jobs. Although their contributions in development of social sector of Pakistan are unforgettable, but like other minorities, Christians faced high discrimination. Pakistan is a Muslim country but there is still legacy of caste system.

Most of the Christians got job in lower grades like sweeper and cleaning jobs They found job entitled to BPS-1 often they are contractual employee and they receive Rs 12,000 to Rs 14,000 a month. Some Muslims also got this job but by using their political reference and end up working as gardeners and drivers. They refused to work arguing that dust and dirt interferes with their prayers. But they got salary from the municipality after working with local officials. Mostly Pakistanis Muslim workers show hatred towards Christian minority by saying “hum Pakistani Han, yeah gutters saaf karna humara kaam nahi. Ye log ghair mulki hain in ka kaam hay.”

All the Christians works in extremely unhygienic conditions without any protective equipment. Due to unhygienic conditions and without any protective gear most of them died during work when they go down into deep gutters as you can see in the picture below

📷

According to study Christians are around 2% of the almost 180 million population. But their representation in the occupation of cleaning and sweeping is extremely high as compared to other minorities in Pakistan.

Lahore is the capital of the Punjab and the largest province in Pakistan. According to the data of Lahore waste management company (LWMC), There are 7894 sweepers Working in Lahore and most of them are belong to Christian community.

World watch monitor published a report and according to this report Minority representation in sanitation work in Pakistan is above 80%. The number of Christian sanitary workers is shown in below in the picture

📷

The increase in the Christian sanitary cleaners in Pakistan shows that they are still facing religious discrimination in finding jobs. In Pakistan, all Christian sweepers are hired by municipalities and they faced discrimination on religious basis. According to 1998 census, Christians are only 1.6% of Pakistan’s total population but they held 80% of the sanitary posts in Pakistan.

“More than 80% of the sanitation workers were Christian at that time” (Karachi,1997)

Umar Baloch, Rights activist.

The advertisement issued by the Mujahid force unit of the park army is not new, the advertisements like this one have been issued by Pakistan news organisations on regular basis. This type of advertisement shows discrimination against Christians and specifying that advertised vacancy are only for non Muslims an example is in the picture below.

📷

Similarly 2015, the Punjab cardiology hospital issued an advertisement in several newspapers which had stated that, “only non-Muslim persons belongs to minorities will be accommodated” for sanitation work.

“Government sponsored discrimination is usually witnessed in such advertisements throughout Pakistan” said Aisha Younis a human rights activist.

The Christian community is marginalised from the mainstream job market and still facing racial discrimination. The government needs to play a fundamental role in wiping out this type of racial and religious discrimination. The government should try to provide education to all Christians. Government needs to bring this community into mainstream job market. They have served Pakistan in different sectors they deserve respect for their role in making a clean Pakistan. The government can play a role in stop forcing the religious minorities into degrading jobs. In order to strengthen Pakistan all the citizens regardless of caste, colour, ethnicity, political and religious associations should be treated equally.

[christianmediaorganization]

What a great Initiative, Christmas metro bus inaugrated in Lahore for Christmas day. Pastors were invited for opening ceremony. Amazing work by Punjab govt for these steps towards peace and harmony in the society. Looking forward for more steps like this by Provincal and Federal government. https://www.instagram.com/p/CX37SLIqp6r/?utm_medium=tumblr

[christianmediaorganization]

Community journalism is also known as public journalism or civic journalism. Its main purpose is to cover the news with best interest of communities. Community media is a type of media which gives information about a Community. It represents a civil society. Its purpose is to develop the stories having more people-cantered approach. Commonly it is owned and operated by citizens from some city, town or community on non-profit basis. It is the only source used to tell the problems related to community people and voice was listened to the higher level. It gives an early notice of emerging issues within a specific community. A community journalist must have a range of skills and broader qualities as compare to other journalists. Such as common sense and understanding of people are the two most prominent qualities of a community journalist.

Community media is very popular around the world for example in first world countries like USA and UK. In UK you have Afan FM which was the first Community radio station to be launched. Australia has also more than 500 fully licensed community radio stations and these radio stations covers a wide range of local content for community. For Community media we need to train people with broadcasting skills. The Community radio concept in Pakistan is very raw as comparison to India. In Pakistan there are restrictions by PEMRA on Community radio and only handful universities and NGO's have licensed for the community radio. There is basically no clear policy for Community radio in Pakistan and people have fear that it could be considered against our cultural norms and falls into the hands of religious extremism.

Community media helps in the promotion of dialogue and it also highlights the different kinds of problems Community face everyday. Lahore Rang channel is covering community journalism in Pakistan. It basically broadcast issue related to Lahore. Which could be political or sports issues or even any incidents happening in Lahore city. It covers all galas, events shows and all kinds of breaking news stories from Lahore Pakistan. Lahore is a historical city and full of colours like language of love, affection, brotherhood, culture, music drama and above all food and smile of Lahori people. This channel gives you the true colours of Lahore in a true Lahori style. But you can say it is more of Community journalism at a larger scale. You would not see lot of Community Media in Pakistan specially in smaller communities as compare to other countries. Moving on the Community journalism model can be successful in Pakistan because there are many communities facing problems and there is not any source to highlight their problems. Government basically needs to give subsidies to the smaller community networks so that they can grow. Even in Lahore you can segregate the community networks and you can make channels in different areas for example in DHA , Walled city Lahore and Bahria. Lastly community journalism system should be given encouragement here and also PEMRA needs to play a role to give more licences to community networks so that they can operate within certain boundaries and function properly. Now after coming new era of technology in twenty and twenty first century there is a lot of chances that the community journalism can be successful easily. And it has increased in last century. As everyone has success to internet in this era so tis technology has given a new way to reach out the information. The voices of a large number of people can be heard through weblogs more fast as compare to past.

[christianmediaorganization]

News Feature

The Christian Community of Pakistan have been facing a lot of problems but the main and important issue they are facing is that in many villages, people are threatening them to either convert to Islam or leave the village.

As authorities get involved and try to make settlements but none of the citizens in the related villages are ready to listen whereas the Christian residents fear for their lives.

The main reason that lead to these demands was that in one of the village named Chak 44, Imran Masih was accused by a coworker at the Rural Health Centre (RHC) of committing blasphemy. Masih along with his family are on the run while others living in the village are in a mess as Muslim mob were threatening Christian families till Police got involved.

Saleem Iqbal, director of the NGO Care Council for Human Rights, says the village's Christian community is in a tight situation. "They are facing a complete social and economic boycott as no shopkeeper is selling anything to them," he told DW.

They have to travel to other villages to buy important grocery and other basic need items.

Religious discrimination and persecution are serious problems in Pakistan, says Zaman Khan of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), a non-government organization not affiliated with the government. Christians, Hindus and Ahmadi Muslims are routinely discriminated against in Pakistan, he told. "Though I appreciate the timely intervention of the law enforcement agencies to avoid another major incident, there still are apprehensions and an attack on the local Christian community can still occur?"

This all needs to end if we want a better and peaceful Pakistan for the Minorities living here. Otherwise it can raise a serious question for us, Are we really a safe country for anyone to live here?

[christianmediaorganization]

#saynotodiscrimination (at Lahore, Pakistan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXf5A3FPQmh/?utm_medium=tumblr

[christianmediaorganization]

Challenges faced by Christian Community

Pakistan is an Islamic country and overwhelmingly Muslims but Hindus and Christians make up the largest minority groups. As each group represent the 1.6% of the population. Like Lahore and Faisalabad there is a large Christian population in Faisalabad. According to the census 2017 there are 1.27% Christians in Pakistan. Although Pakistan is a Muslim country but the legacy of a caste system reflected the discriminatory attitude towards Christian community among the peoples belonging to Muslim majority.

Christians are just 1.27% of the population and majority of them are overwhelmingly poor and working in menial jobs as cleaners, laborers ad farmhands. They are still deprived from basic minority rights. No one can deny their contributions in building of educational institutions, hospitals and health facilities throughout the country. The are facing a number of issues like other religious minorities. Christians have faced discrimination, violence, forced conversions Blasphemy law and victimization through the history of Pakistan. They are considered as outcasts by majority Pakistanis. Since 2001 the violence and discrimination rate against Christians has increased. They are facing target violence and some other abuses, such as land grabbing in rural areas and the vandalizing of homes and churches.

They have faced attacked on their residential and worshiping places. They faced a suicide attack in September 2013 on Christian Church resulted more than 100 causalities in Peshawar Church. Similarly they are also faced two large mob attacks in March and April 2013 in Punjab. Their homes were destroyed by large mob. Similarly in 2015, Taliban attacked on two churches in Lahore resulted 15 causalities.

📷

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1169713&psig=AOvVaw3OUnlSiYvjcfEmDv50NyuS&ust=1638877658656000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCIiumOSNz_QCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

They have also faced blasphemy laws including Asia Bibi case in 2010. She was accused of religious defamation and was the first woman in Pakistan sentenced to death under the law 295-C. According to data by the Centre for Research and Solidarity, of an estimated 434 blasphemy offenders documented between 1953 and 2012 and 114 out of them were Christians.

📷

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F750512%2Ftimeline-accused-under-the-blasphemylaw&psig=AOvVaw3RXPv983ISjQUOIR4SK3ke&ust=1638876862846000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCPjlttOPz_QCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

Former Pakistani MLA from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, Baldev Kumar has requested political asylum from Delhi in 2019. Beldev told news agency “Not only minorities but even Muslims are not safe there (Pakistan). we are surviving in Pakistan with lot of difficulties. I request the Indian Government to give me asylum here. I will not go back”.

Christians are living a life with almost no opportunities. They are among the country’s most marginalized communities. They have low quota in Government jobs. They have most government jobs in the lows grades like bulk of the city’s sanitation workers and street sweepers. In Lahore, Christians are working as a street sweepers and are living in harsh conditions.

Christian women are also facing multiple forms of discrimination, including forced marriages and sexual violence. As they are non influential group so they do not get any solutions for their problems. As many Christians are in the poorest societies. They remain isolated from other communities. They live in their own restricted areas and are not allowed to participation in social issues of Pakistan. Religious discrimination and persecution are among the serious problems faced by the Christian minority in Pakistan.

According to the present situation it will take a considerable amount of time to resolve with these type of issues in Pakistan. All these issues can be resolved by Government but there is need to change their mind set. There is injustice in society with Christian community. They have social, legal and political problems. They are already too scattered, too divided and too uneducated in the society. They are now demanding the voice. They can not live more in this situation. They want their rights, they demands religious freedom.

[christianmediaorganization]

Challenges faced by Christian Community Pakistan is an Islamic country and overwhelmingly Muslims but Hindus and Christians make up the largest minority groups. As each group represent the 1.6% of the population. Like Lahore and Faisalabad there is a large Christian population in Faisalabad. According to the census 2017 there are 1.27% Christians in Pakistan. Although Pakistan is a Muslim country but the legacy of a caste system reflected the discriminatory attitude towards Christian community among the peoples belonging to Muslim majority. Christians are just 1.27% of the population and majority of them are overwhelmingly poor and working in menial jobs as cleaners, laborers ad farmhands. They are still deprived from basic minority rights. No one can deny their contributions in building of educational institutions, hospitals and health facilities throughout the country. The are facing a number of issues like other religious minorities. Christians have faced discrimination, violence, forced conversions Blasphemy law and victimization through the history of Pakistan. They are considered as outcasts by majority Pakistanis. Since 2001 the violence and discrimination rate against Christians has increased. They are facing target violence and some other abuses, such as land grabbing in rural areas and the vandalizing of homes and churches. They have faced attacked on their residential and worshiping places. They faced a suicide attack in September 2013 on Christian Church resulted more than 100 causalities in Peshawar Church. Similarly they are also faced two large mob attacks in March and April 2013 in Punjab. Their homes were destroyed by large mob. Similarly in 2015, Taliban attacked on two churches in Lahore resulted 15 causalities. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1169713&psig=AOvVaw3OUnlSiYvjcfEmDv50NyuS&ust=1638877658656000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCIiumOSNz_QCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD They have also faced blasphemy laws including Asia Bibi case in 2010. She was accused of religious defamation and was the first woman in Pakistan sentenced to death under the law 295-C. According to data by the Centre for Research and Solidarity, of an estimated 434 blasphemy offenders documented between 1953 and 2012 and 114 out of them were Christians. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F750512%2Ftimeline-accused-under-the-blasphemylaw&psig=AOvVaw3RXPv983ISjQUOIR4SK3ke&ust=1638876862846000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCPjlttOPz_QCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD Former Pakistani MLA from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, Baldev Kumar has requested political asylum from Delhi in 2019. Beldev told news agency “Not only minorities but even Muslims are not safe there (Pakistan). we are surviving in Pakistan with lot of difficulties. I request the Indian Government to give me asylum here. I will not go back”. Christians are living a life with almost no opportunities. They are among the country’s most marginalized communities. They have low quota in Government jobs. They have most government jobs in the lows grades like bulk of the city’s sanitation workers and street sweepers. In Lahore, Christians are working as a street sweepers and are living in harsh conditions. Christian women are also facing multiple forms of discrimination, including forced marriages and sexual violence. As they are non influential group so they do not get any solutions for their problems. As many Christians are in the poorest societies. They remain isolated from other communities. They live in their own restricted areas and are not allowed to participation in social issues of Pakistan. Religious discrimination and persecution are among the serious problems faced by the Christian minority in Pakistan. According to the present situation it will take a considerable amount of time to resolve with these type of issues in Pakistan. All these issues can be resolved by Government but there is need to change their mind set. There is injustice in society with Christian community. They have social, legal and political problems. They are already too scattered, too divided and too uneducated in the society. They are now demanding the voice. They can not live more in this situation. They want their rights, they demands religious freedom.