Mst. Rehana Kausar and her 13 year daughter resident of Rawalpindi applied with Canadian authorities asylum on the ground that she was Shia. Her asylum application was rejected and she was given a time limit to be out of Canada. Pakistan press has cried over Pakistan Embassy in Canada that it was lethargic in not issuing Out Pass for them to leave Canada.
Our is a wonderful country. One is caught on charges of burning the bus right in the eyes of market shop keepers and road users but our so called human rights organizations, activists cry when such a person is arrested as his arrest is termed as human rights issue, political prisoner and so on. Now Pakistan Embassy is being accused in Canada that it lacks humanity as it was allegedly delaying Out Pass. It is the same like a Pakistani-origin Canadian brother Shafiq Khan sitting in Canada termed the whole Pakistani nation dishonest and thief when delivery of his returned-parcel gets delayed (in Canada).
These so called human rights organizations or so called human rights activists feel no shame in accusing their own country without first for a while understanding and evaluating the issue independently and honestly.
The lady is resident of Rawalpindi and is Shia Muslim. Is being a Shia in Pakistan any dangerous? Certainly not. Almost half of the population in Pakistan is of Shia faith. They do not have any special fear FOR BEING Shia. What the general law and order situation and terrorist attacks on Mosques, Imam Bargahs or Church are these are for all and for everyone. In these attacks all are being killed. When a terrorist bomb blasts say in a Sunni Mosque or in the area inhabited by PML people, the exploded bomb kills without discrimination sunnis shias Christians or Muslim leaguees Peplians or Pushtoons. The blasted bomb has no eyes to recognize a Shia or a Suni, an American or an Iraqi. There is no Shia Sunni clashes at any place in Pakistan. Those we hear or read in newspapers are never shia sunny fights but of a very limited class who is neither Shia nor Suni or Christian as that class does not has any religion since its only religion and bread and butter line is causing and creating fighting or attacks which are then painted as attacks on Sunnis or Shias. I am sunni believer but I can swear during our best friends are our Shia neighbours. They had no hate against us and we had none too. In Pakistan Shia Sunnis are living together in streets, work together in offices, Sunni same way respect Muharram.
While applying for political asylum one is to submit lot of complaints false or true against his own society and country. Asylum is only needed by political opponents but only of high level/position like Chief of City party area etc and not by ordinary political worker. A Shia, a Sunni leader or a Christian leader could face fear of persecution but not an ordinary street level Shia Sunny. In such asylum application one gives too many exahugrated lies to justify his request and these lies mostly pertain against one’s own country. The lady is an ordinary housewife and is seeking asylum on the ground that she was Shia. She well knows ordinary living Shia Suni or Christians have no fear of persecution hence she must have added many colours in her application against the Pakistan, Pakistani society and Pakistani people. She in fact only wants to migrate to Canada on the cost of damaging the reputation of her country on whose passport she went abroad. She does not deserve any sympathy hence I am sure if there is any delay on her Out Pass it must be due to some good reason at Pakistan Embassy who must be doing usual scrutiny. {PS: She has now reached Pakistan].
Asylum in other countries in rare cases can be justified and perhaps could be a wise step but where there is a real fear. For example in honour killing where there is a real fear of being killed a couple approached a foreign embassy in Pakistan and got visa which can well be understood. If an Ahmadi files such an application it can be justified because Ahmadis are really facing tough time. A fortnight back I read a news item that police arrested 14 Ahmadis (father, his son bridge groom etc) as on the wedding card they had written BISMILLAH. If these people are trying to shift to Canada for sake of their future generation it can have sympathies from people as religious extremists have really made life miserable for Ahmedis. But a Shia has no fear of persecution on the ground of being Shia hence this lady deserves no sympathy of at least mine.
On her deportation Rehana said that she never thought “Canada could be that so cruel, it can never be a welfare state”. Sorry brother Shafiq Khan.
Pakistan Embassy Washingon advised Pakistan Consulate Toronto to help the lady through Community Welfare Fund. The Toronto Consulate did not help and refused blankly as the news item says. I do appreciate Consulate’s refusal as our community fund can not be spent on asylum seekers who seek asylum telling cruel stories about our own country and then need funds from same country whom they were painting a bad place. Edhi New York paid $3000/- for her Attorney fee. Do our people pay to Edhi to spend that on those who abuse our own countryn