Pakistan Catholics appeal for sharia law exemption

Bess Twiston Davies on a new threat to minorities A PAKISTANI Catholic has launched a campaign to exempt Christians from Sharia law.
Nash Saeed, director of the Christian group CLAAS (Centre for Legal Aid and Assistance) says Christians living in Pakistan's North West Frontier, bordering Afghanistan, are in danger from the newly introduced Sharia law.
Since June. Islam has become compulsory in schools, separate universities for men and women are being planned and male coaches have been forbidden from training female athletes. Thieves face amputation of their limbs, and adulterers stoning. All schools courts and banks are being realigned to ensure they follow Koranic teaching.
"The Province's Chief Minister Akram Durrani has warned 'people who fail to observe Shariah Law will have no place in our Province'," said Mr Saeed.
"Shariah Law is used to persecute Christians. In Pakistan, the leaders of the militant groups see Pakistani Christians as representative and supportive of the US and its foreign policies. When the US and its allies attacked Afghanistan the extremists took it as an attack against all Muslims and therefore felt justified retaliating against local Christians.
"Religious minorities are living as second-class citizens because of the Islamic laws and are under constant fear of their life. In the present situation it is not possible for minorities to speak out, campaign or protest against these laws from inside the country. NGOs and church organisations are scared and are well aware about the severe consequences or retaliatory reaction by religious extremists."
The introduction of Shariah law reflects the growing influence of the MMA, the Muttahida Majtis -e-Amal, a coalition of six Islamic parties linked to the terrorist networt al-Qaeda, which now governs the north west frontier. "Now for the first time, the MMA is the majority party in Palcistan's National Assembly." said Mr Saeed.
"Most people have antiWestern sentiments and that's why they support the fundamentalists. This is the first time that fundamentalists have got a majority and they are able to be the government because of the Taliban.
"The leader in the house of majority is pro-Taliban. General Musharref, the Prime Minister, has banned some groups but I would say in such cases he has just banned the names and not the activities. The Taliban are hiding in Pakistan, and there are a number of organisations with training camps in Pakistan."
Mr Saeed will send his protest against Sharia Law to the Pakistan High Commission and General Musharref. But he said: "Now he might have to dissemble the national assembly. He is not in a position to do anything to help the minorities, he is trying to save his own party."