Lahore, Aug. 16, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Pakistani Christians joined with Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and other religious groups in an August 11 demonstration in Lahore, demanding equal rights for minority groups, Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports.
Thousands of members of the religious minorities, joined by sympathetic Muslims, endorsed a "Charter of Demands that included the repeal of blasphemy laws, the creation of a commission to promote tolerance, and the revision of school curricula to remove material that denigrates other religious groups.
The rally was organized for the 60th anniversary of Pakistan, and the organizers quoted the country's founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who told the leaders of the newly established Pakistan: "You You are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste or creed – that has nothing to do with the business of the state."
The rally by religious minorities came at a time when Pakistan is undergoing a political crisis, with President Pervez Musfarraf under heavy international pressure to shore up his authority by entering into a power-sharing agreement with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Bhutto, who is currently living in exile, send a message of support for the August 11 rally.