All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) has criticised Tehrik-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwat’s demand to have a separate column for religion on national identity cards (NIC).
Having a separate column on NICs is like dividing the nation into different columns, said APMA Members of Parliament (MP). “What is disturbing is that the demand has been voiced from Pakistan People’s Party-Parliamentarians (PPPP), which is supposed to be a liberal and progressive party,” they said.
APMA has supported PPPP since the 2002 elections and chose to sit in the opposition with them. “We still think PPPP is a liberal party and minorities will be secure with it,” the MPs said.
MPs Pervaiz Rafique, Najmi Saleem and Naveed Amir Jeeva raised the concerns at the birthday celebration of APMA Chairman Shahbaz Bhatti at Lahore Press Club, which was attended by PPPP Deputy Parliamentary Leader Rana Aftab and MP Sagheera Islam.
Rana Aftab said Bhatti was the only leader who sacrificed personal glory to help party members reach the assemblies. “Because of him, APMA members are representing their communities’ issues effectively,” he said.