Violating the vision of the Father of the Nation, the Quaid-e- Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah once again Mr. Clement Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs who is not a representative of Pakistani minorities (as minorities have not chosen him by casting their votes) is again celebrating August 11 as the ‘ Minorities Day’. Celebrating this day is a clear-cut symbol that the minorities are not free to lead their lives independently in Pakistan. That is why government will celebrate this day as a ‘Minorities Day’ and minorities have again decided to celebrate this day as ‘Black Day’. It is also surprising that what is the need to celebrate such a day, which does not have any connection with the independence of Pakistan as Pakistan came into existence on August 14, 1947. The Quaid’s address to the Constituent Assembly was not only for the minorities but also for all of the people of the newly emerging state of Pakistan, which was to be existed after three days of his address. Minorities have been deliberately segregated by the nefarious designs of Pakistani governments and this is also one of those acts. It is only the state of Pakistan in the comity of the nations where ‘Minorities Day’ is being celebrated, which is a symbol of a sick nation. It indicates that there is discrimination with the minorities in Pakistan. Pakistani minorities are going to celebrate August 11 as the ‘Black Day’ as they are being persecuted in their own homeland on the constitutional and social levels. There is violation of their fundamental rights due to the discriminatory laws. They are not treated equally but are treated as second-class citizens of Pakistan. They are insecure and in the state of fear every moment of their lives being minorities. There is desecration of their places of worships as they are burnt, demolished and occupied. Their Holy Scriptures are desecrated, burnt and thrown out of their places of worships and houses. There is desecration of their religious symbols. They are beaten up, kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam. Their houses are burnt with chemicals after looting. They are physically, spiritually and mentally tortured. There are forced conversions and forced marriages with their minor girls. There is desecration of their marriages. Their men, women and children are burnt to ashes. They are not safe in their houses and even in the courts as there lives are taken anywhere. There is no value to their faith, honour and lives. They are imprisoned in the fake cases and put to death by the jail authorities. Textbooks and public educational institutions have biased approach against the religions of minorities. There is hate-based material against the teaching of the minority religions. They are treated as untouchables. They cannot pray freely and are harassed. They are mostly offered menial jobs and for the menial jobs it is written that only non- Muslims can apply for the posts of sanitary workers. Barbers are not ready to have their haircut. They cannot eat in the hotels in the same utensils in which Muslims eat. The used utensils are either broken or the user has to pay for the utensils he/she has used. They are not allowed to eat from the state sponsored hotels being followers of the minority religions of Pakistan. The government of Pakistan must reverse her decision for the sake of Pakistan as there is not any notification of national holiday and minorities have to go to work for the prosperity of the land. This is a political decision and perhaps the next government will not be able to carry on the policies of the present government. In the end I would request the government of Pakistan on behalf of the minorities to give equal status and equal rights repealing all the discriminatory laws as are provided in the civilized nations as mentioned in the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) and International Convention on the Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). It is further requested to have constitutional reforms in the present Constitution of Pakistan so that it may be acceptable even to the minorities. Let us celebrate the 63rd Independence Day as a nation without the distinction of religion, caste or creed. -- Prof. Anjum James Paul is Chairman of Pakistan Minorities Teachers' Association (PMTA)