AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Washington, December 07, 2012 (PPI-OT): The Government of Pakistan and the Pakistan Embassy in Washington DC share the pain and grief of our Shia brothers and sisters and would like to reiterate that protecting and promoting the fundamental rights of all citizens of Pakistan regardless of their religion or ethnicity is a sacred mission of the democratically elected Government of Pakistan.
The Government views with deep concern, incidents of violence directed against various segments of the Pakistani population, including the targeting of Pakistani Shias. The Government is determined to prevent such incidents and took unprecedented security measures during the last Ashura.
That some elements did succeed in their nefarious designs to cause mayhem and take innocent lives clearly shows that all peace loving Pakistanis must join hands in assisting the Government in defeating them. We will not allow the perpetrators of these crimes or other acts of violence against Shias, including target killings, to go unpunished. Law enforcement agencies are working hard to identify, apprehend, and bring all such villains to justice.
Human rights are a central pillar of any democratic society. Pakistan is no exception. We have been given clear guidance on this not only from Islam but also by our founding father, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He said, “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan.
You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State.” The Government of Pakistan is determined to follow the Quaid’s precepts and to create a modern, progressive, and pluralist Pakistan in which all citizens enjoy equal rights and protections and go about their lives without any let or hindrance.
Pakistan also remains alive to its voluntarily accepted obligations under international human rights treaties and will continue to strive to reach the standards set by them.
The Embassy will faithfully transmit the petition of the “10,000 Souls March” to the concerned authorities in Pakistan for appropriate and expeditious action and assures the petitioners that the Government of Pakistan will leave no stone unturned to uphold their rights and to protect the lives, liberty, and property of all citizens of Pakistan.
For more information, contact:
Embassy of Pakistan, Washington D.C
3517 International Court NW
Washington, DC 20008.
PH. (202)243-6500,
Fax: 202-686-1534
Email: info@embassyofpakistanusa.org
Consular Section PH: 202-349-3177
Consular Section Email: consularsection@embassyofpakistanusa.org