Lahore, Pakistan: July 26, 2010. (Interview by Jawad Mazhar for PCP) “I am fighting for equal basic democratic rights of my Christian nation in Pakistan and stand firm that I will be successful in this noble cause with blessings of Shaheed-e-Azam Bishop John Joseph, whose sacrifices lead me and encourage me in very difficult situations” told Mr. Khalid Gill to PCP Khalid Gill is very prominent leader of Pakistani Christians and respected by people of every walk of life from every religion in Pakistan. Khalid Gill is Chief Organizer of Christian Liberation Front CLF and All Pakistan Minorities Alliance APMA and have traveled in far flung areas of Pakistan to unite Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Parsi and other religious minorities under flags of these organizations. Talking to PCP correspondent, Khalid Gill very proudly affirmed with pride “I salute the efforts of Shaheed-e-Azam Bishop John Joseph and obviously when I joined Christian Liberation Front of Pakistan Shahbaz Bahtti was our leader when it born with its devotional members on 1st May 1989 at Pinto Ground Warispura Faisalabad” In early 1960, when persecution of Christian was rolling its sleeves up to swallow the many precious souls devoted for Christ. A year was started and spring was just on when God sent an angle flower to Mr. Sidique Gill’s home on 1st April 1960 Lahore Pakistan. No body knows that the 4th grade student serving as an alter boy at his primary Church will organize a leading alliance to fight for the rights of minorities’ hope every body knows. He is The Gill: Be sure Khalid Gill a well known Christian leader on grass root level through out Pakistan and abroad for its influencing personality and brave leadership. Mr. Khalid Gill was born in a Christian family and grown up in a Christ centered environment. In the election of 2008 he was nominated candidate for the National assembly as well as the provincial assembly of the Punjab for the reserved seats for the religious minorities by the Mohterma Benazir Bhutto. (Shaheed-e-Jamhooriat) Mr. Gill has done tremendous work for all the religious minorities, especially for the Christian community. In honor of those services he has been elected as Vice-President of Tree of life Ministries www.treeoflifeintl.org reaching to the un reached with the word. In addition to that he is serving as an administrator of the Church of the Nations of Pakistan. The ministry is run from its headquarter in Brazil. www.ministeriovidaemcristo.org Mr. Gill has a long history of serving the community and he is fiery speaker, columnist loving father and faithful friend. He has boldly opposed the draconian Blasphemy Laws. He has deep roots in all religious communities. He is doing this work despite great deal of hostile environment in terms of religious freedom in the country. “Since my child hood I was very much spirited and I have been serving as an alter boy in my earlier childhood. When got younger I participated in a lot of youth programs and later on founded the Christian Youth Fellowship Pakistan (CYFP 1972 ) which is alive up to day. I have experienced discrimination at earlier youth hoods so I envisioned to fight for the equal rights of my Nation especially all; forms of persecution and discrimination. We are suffering persecution every where at every level” said Khalid Gill Answering a question Mr. Gill said “Christian Liberation Front is my land where I dreamed to fight for our rights. I have told above that I have experienced persecution my self so I joined Christian Liberation Front Pakistan” He added that my focal point always remained to Fight for the Rights and I must declare that Christian Liberation Front CLF is not dissolved, even every organization of this Alliance has their own individuality so Christian Liberation Front Pakistan is Founder and leading organization of APMA while Alliance was formed on 14th July 2002 to fight for the rights of all the religious minorities. Commenting on recent situation, Mr. Gill quoted “I know my nation is disappointed because of the tough time we are passing through. But be sure some recommendations are under consideration and nothing to say before time” Addressing Pakistani Christians he added that I would like to encourage all my brother and sisters who are passing through the crucial time. At the time of this interview even on our call a nationwide protest went through the Pakistan I am here with and for my people and praying for them not to be worried but stand firm to defend their faith because we are committed to our martyrdom and zealous winning the crown of life. Time will be the witness of our tireless efforts and struggles to achieve our Goal Republican Pakistan.(Awami Jamhooria Pakistan)as per the Vision of Quaid-e-Azam Founder of our beloved country. On a question by PCP correspondent that why prominent people did not join APMA, Mr. Gill that we did not snatch the liberty of choice, every one is free to choice his/her own political ground or base. You can see even some of prominent Christians are not the part of All Pakistan Minorities alliance. However I personally visited to organize APMA all over the Pakistan with the open heart, open message and open struggle to the all the minorities with the Slogan: Unity and Solidarity among Minority “Can I ask why you did not join yourself, you are prominent too. Is it? Presenting achievements of APMA, he went on saying “Yes you can see All Pakistan Minorities Alliance got some success together,5% quota and Minority Protection Bill has been tabled by Federal Minister of Minorities affairs” Mr. Gill said that on the assurance of Mohterma Benazir Bhutto for the abolition of blasphemy laws, discriminatory laws and the acceptance of our Charter of Demands(Highly Announced by Shahbaz Bhatti Quaid-e-Tahreek on 11th August 2007 at Minar-e-Pakistan Lahore recalling the Speech of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah about the liberty of minorities on 11th August 1947 ) we accepted the tickets for PPPP. Pakistan Peoples’ Party, Parliamentarian. Off course APMA has an active roll; we are not dummies. Our moments is for our rights and we found PPPP most liberal comparatively so it was the demand of the time to carry on our struggles while being the election partner of PPPP. We shall press on our fight and still on it and we shall appreciate it if PPPP become the cause of peace and prove for Minorities a Ray of Hope as in the past when Mohterma Shaheed was alive we envisioned. However we are bitterly set behind in all aspects in the approval of 18th amendment. Discussing role of Pakistan Peoples Party, Mr. Gill claimed that we are sorry to say that we are being pushed back in all aspects and nothing is fulfilled yet except the,5 % job quota, declaration of 11 August as National Minority Day, considering the religious festivals as optional holidays, Word Christian is legalized replacing the Word “Essai”. But all these things are in the files fully implementation is not seen any where yet. Mohterma promised to de-nationalize as per the demands of our charter and yes off course she was Ray of Hope for Minorities. We ever missed! Alliance is still on it to get the seats on its proportional rate which is not figured out yet. While in on 26th February 1996 she decided for casting double votes and filling the additional seats by additional votes. Remember additional votes (Double Votes) are the content of our Charter of Demand. Remember it was our demand to figure out the actual number of population before reserving seats for minorities. That content is still pending so we are not agreed with weather exact percentage is figured. It does not make sense that we are idols who are not growing even, we are shown same (in 2010) as in 1985. Due to the Article 51 (E) of constitution 1973 of Pakistan we are bound to beg the seats from the general Election contesting political parties of Pakistan. According to the mathematical statement of President of Pakistan depicts that the population of the country was 7 Crore in 1988 which is grown up to 20 Crore in 2010. 65% is the youth only. This statement is the part of speech of President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari said on the occasion of 57th Birth anniversary of Shaheed-e-Jamhooriat in Larkana on 20th June 2010. Question does arise ! are we idols or stones who are motionless and not moving to grow. I would like to ask to our rolling stones to be the corner stones. Actual population of the minorities should be declared accordingly. When PCP enquired that is he expecting to become a Senator on PPPP ticket for Senate of Pakistan on recently announced 4 seats reserved for minorities, Mr. Khalid Gill replied “Just for your information if you are expecting seat from Punjab. It is not as easy as you are thinking. The additional seats which are thrown to catch are even going to be fulfilled in next election of 2013.So I think your question is before time. He uttered this Urdu poetry verse “Kon Jeeta hie teri zulaf ke sir honey tuk” On APMA members nominated by PPPP in parliament, Mr. Gill Clarified that APMA believes on Leadership and we don’t think there is low profile, every one is precious to APMA but the thing which I would like to say is this that “All who are seating should remember for what they are called and they have time to prove themselves selves real leaders and who is just with his own tongue other wise nation will never forgive them. but forget them forever! Being Chairman of Christian Lawyers Foundation Pakistan (CLFPakistan) www.clfpakistan.com, Mr. Khalid assured that CLF-Pakistan, will never replace Christian Liberation Front. Christian lawyers Foundation just formed to advocate the advocates, after the incident of Shzaia Murder Case the young Christian advocates were threatened. But Leadership cant sleep, the leader is one who knows the way, shows the way and Goes the way.I always need to awake for my nations. As a humble but devoted servant of nation I founded Christian Lawyers Foundation with its few devotional Members while it is gaining highly civilian assistance because of its tireless efforts for the victimization. I always encouraged my Christian Lawyers (friends) who honored me to chair the Foundation. Mr. Khalid Gill, recited this poem for readers; Kill me and call it a Mistake, Imprison me and call it Security Measures, Shelling and Firing on my Masses and call it law and order control, Release my murderer and call it Misunderstanding. Nationalize my institute and call it Education for Poor, Throw out my Leaders role in Pakistan Movement from syllabus and call it ideology of Pakistan, But Listen! Still I am Christian I will defend my honor and Religion I will remain Christian Forever, In a message to Pakistani Christians, Chief Organizer of CLF and APMA said that from the Martyrdom of my elder Bishop John Joseph Shaheed-Azam to the recent martyrdom of Rev.Rashid and Sajjid Emmanuel I salute all my martyrs and ask the nation not to go their blood in vein. Keep firm on your faith. “I would like to request all Christian Brother and sisters and all the minority members and leaders sitting abroad or in homeland. We are passing through the worst persecution ever found in the history of Pakistan. Be strong and don’t miss Alliance we formed” said Mr. Gill