Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday again tried to compare the treatment of minorities in his country and India, saying these communities would be treated as equal citizens in “Naya Pakistan”, “unlike what is happening in India”, days after stating that he would “show” the Narendra Modi government “how to treat minorities”.
Khan’s latest comments came on the occasion of Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s birthday.
“Naya Pakistan is Quaid’s Pakistan and will ensure that our minorities are treated as equal citizens, unlike what is happening in India,” he tweeted.
Quaid envisaged Pakistan as a democratic, just and compassionate nation. Most importantly he wanted our minorities to be equal citizens. It should be remembered that his early political career was as an ambassador for Hindu Muslim unity.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 25, 2018
His struggle for a separate nation for Muslims only started when he realised that Muslims would not be treated as equal citizens by the Hindu majority. Naya Pak is Quaid's Pak & we will ensure that our minorities are treated as equal citizens, unlike what is happening in India. https://t.co/xFPo8ahJnp
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 25, 2018
He added that Jinnah had envisaged Pakistan as a “democratic, just and compassionate” nation.
Targeting India in another tweet, Khan said: “His (Jinnah’s) struggle for a separate nation for Muslims only started when he realised that Muslims would not be treated as equal citizens by the Hindu majority.”
Khan also claimed that Muslims in Pakistan were treated as equal citizens:
"what Naseeruddin Shah is saying today is what Jinnah realized back then"
— Omer (@Intellectroll) December 22, 2018
"today Indian Muslims are not considered as equal citizens so we must make Pak a place where our minorities are treated equally"
"we've to show this to Modi's India"
- Imran Khan 🔥pic.twitter.com/aIoJC4nI5Y
The controversy over the issue started when actor Naseeruddin Shah lamented the rise of mob violence in India over cow vigilantism and expressed fear over rising religious intolerance in the country.
Following this, the Pakistani leader took a swipe at the Indian government, saying that he will “show” them “how to treat minorities”.
Indian leaders and citizen were quick to hit back. Take a look at some of the responses:
According to the Pakistani Constitution, only a Muslim is qualified to be President. India has seen multiple Presidents from oppressed communities. It's high time Khan sahab learns something from us about inclusive politics & minority rights.https://t.co/qarmZkqdhH
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) December 23, 2018
When Imran Khan wishes only Christians on Christmas and Narendra Modi wishes everybody, it shows us the difference between India & Pakistan...
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) December 25, 2018
Fine Jyoti @jomalhotra insight #GlobalPrint https://t.co/QueXviExii
'Pakistan is the last country that should be lecturing any country on how to treat minorities', says Indian Cricketer Mohammad Kaif in a tweet response to Pakistan PM Imran Khan's statement pic.twitter.com/8yzDb0ee0i
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) December 25, 2018
Dear @ImranKhanPTI,
— True Indology (@TrueIndology) December 25, 2018
Sharada is the holiest temple in Pakistan for Hindu minorities. It was destroyed by Pakistani army in 1947
Since you boast of treating minorities as "equal citizens",how about you walk the talk? Renovate the shrine and permit Hindu pilgrims to visit the site pic.twitter.com/IMwXfJllQe
Just in 4 years from 1947 to 1951 , Pakistan reduced the Hindu percentage from 14% to 1.5% by both killing and forcing of Hindus out of Pakistan.
— True Indology (@TrueIndology) December 25, 2018
"You were only 1.5% in 1951, we never killed you" is a cliche of Pak apologists, knowing very well that they finished job in 4 years
Nobody says India is perfect. But we wont be lectured to by a man who denies that bin Laden was a terrorist, who loves the Taliban, backs Islamic extremists and who, according to his ex wife, thinks he’s a good Muslim because he has no booze, only cocaine!https://t.co/fvtmBNLelm
— vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) December 23, 2018
Number of non-Muslim PM in Pakistan since 1947 = 0
— Rahul Raj (@bhak_sala) December 23, 2018
Number of non-Muslim President in Pakistan since 1947 = 0
Number of non-Muslim Army Chief in Pakistan since 1947 = 0
Number of non-Muslim captain in Pakistan since 1947 = 0
@ImranKhanPTI will teach us how to treat minorities
Had India treated minorities the way Pakistan does the Hindu majority nation would not be fighting for #RamMandir in the court of law.
— Arvind Limbavali (@bjparvind) December 25, 2018
This is what happens when a person who spent all his life in 22 yards starts ruling a area of 881,913 km²@ImranKhanPTI get educated! pic.twitter.com/IqMMiV071R
Pakistan protecting minorities is like hyenas turning vegetarian.. 😎
— Sheshappanna (@Supreme_Indian) December 25, 2018
Oopps this comparison will bring anger to hyenas🤣 pic.twitter.com/z1icl5CXRe
Imran Khan says he will teach 'How to Treat Minorities'
— Kirti Tiwari (@ikirtitiwari) December 23, 2018
Some data:
Minorities in #Pakistan
1947 - 30%
2018 - 2%
Minorities in #India
1947 - 14%
2018 - 24%#IntellectualTerrorists like Nasruddin can shift to Pak tb & feel safe. India doesn't require any classes from you.
‘Take care of own country’: Naseeruddin Shah tells Pak PM Imran Khan on minorities remarkhttps://t.co/EkwHH9jiFd pic.twitter.com/t2xxck1B1m
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) December 23, 2018