Catholic Church seeks apology from Malik
Interior Minister Rehman Mailk. — Photo by AP/File
LAHORE: The Catholic Church in Pakistan has demanded an apology from Interior Minister Rehman Malik for drawing a parallel between the Holy Father and Dr Tahirul Qadri.
In a statement on Thursday, Senior Priest of the Catholic Church in Pakistan Fr Emmanuel Yousaf Mani demanded that Rehman Malik should immediately withdraw unnecessary and provocative remarks.
“There is no comparison or link between the two personalities. While Pope (Benedict XVI) is an undisputed leader of the Catholic Church, the largest faith group in the world, the credentials of Dr Qadri are prerogative of Pakistanis and Muslims to ascertain. On the other hand the Pope has neither a political role nor ambitions in the 21st century states,” said Fr Emmanuel Yousaf who is also a director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace.
“We as a Christian community of Pakistan feel deeply angered by such statements maligning the office and the position of Papacy. We demand an apology from Rehman Malik, who is otherwise assigned a responsible task and request him to avoid any such remarks in the future.
We also appeal to all leaders to keep the dissent and political battles within the limits of decency because uncanny remarks do not reflect the better part of democratic culture.
The religious minorities have always stood with the movements for democracy and human rights and will always strive to work for democracy and justice in Pakistan,” said the statement.
Much ado about nothing …..
this is freedom of speech. Rehman Malik can say what ever he wants.
(disclaimer: I dont like RM.)
Slowly Pakistani ppl are getting enuf educated to respect other religions. If improvements like this continues thn Pakistan has a good future. Small changes can make big difference
Dear father at the Catholic Church in Lahore, please forgive this man. I am sure he didn’t know what he was saying. “Holy father” is often used by ordinary people in Pakistan for one who tries to feel superior to others in religious matters, but it is always a joke. And Mr.Rehman Malik had no inkling that he was in a different position to use such a word so carelessly. He will feel very embarrassed, but would be stubborn to apologize to a minority. It is against his status as a minister to be wrong. He is supposed to right, always. He will surely come forward with a yet more foolish explanation. Just see.
The ignorance of the elected, in pakistan is staggering. Do people pick the dumbest of the lot?
Rehman Malik can be forgiven. Not his fault that he is an uneducated lout. Actually education system in Pakistan is to blame. Even Madam Rabbani has been shooting of her pretty mouth.
Remember the words,” forgive him Father, he does not know what he is talking about..”. So also is Rahman Malik!
Rehman Malik is a disgrace to Pakistan and he would not mind equating anything to justify their dirty rule in Pakistan.
They are quiet right. Mr.Rehman Malik showed typical mentality of an ignorant Pakistani, who has no respect for other religious figures. Making fun of Mr. Qadri,s outfit was very childish and showed immaturity of our interior minister and insensitivity towards our minorities.
Rehman Malik should immediately quite the ministry and should seek apology from minorities as well as from Dr Qadri.
Ia there a blasphemy law applicable to the present case?
How is this blasphemy?he compared Qadri to pope, not with anything Muslim. You must know when it doesnt apply.
Im also sorry for the behaviour of Mr. Rehman Malik.
Ironically,Minority in this country is the BIGGEST religion of this World.
My deepest apologies to all the Christians. Please do not mind what Rehman Malik says. Is he had any sense he would not have said those words.
Blasphemy charges seem to be appropriate here. How about that?. Prove to the Christian brothers and sisters that the blasphemy laws apply to all religions. The problem with Malik is that he opens his mouth before he can think and since he tries to speak English unnecessarily, he puts his foot in his mouth evertime he opens it. What a leader we have!!!
He is a leader? May be leader of Talibans.
Rahman Malik par Raham karo. He does not know what he says.
Who cares what Malik says anyway. Let us apologize to Christian Pakistanis for the hurt we cause them.
How many christians have you left to apologise to ? LOL
It is the duty of everyone not to hurt religious sentiment of other.
Rehman Malik should clarify his position regarding the matter.
I bet whatever profile, you compare with Qadri, they will protest, even the fish of the ocean would protest, if Qadri is compared to them -:)
Malik should respect minority belief and apologize which will make him better person for accepting his mistake, if he cares for other beside himself.
Has any one respected minority religon ever before in Pakistan ?
Never.
How well do you respect your country minority religion is for the world to see..
Wishful thinking that an apology will be forthcoming.
Over-reaction?
Atleast some one has thought of teaching Malik a lesson
He is talking about the dress not the personality.
Holy Father is a name of personality, not a name for dress.
He should apologise.
Not “should”. He MUSTapologise for needlessly hurting the feelinds of so many Pakistanis. He clearly lacks the training to appreciate the nuances of what he says as a senior Government minister, and hence should speak as little as possible. Many short-comings are not exposed if one does not speak.