THE government must take serious notice of the comments made by Interior Minister Rehman Malik who compared the zucchetto of the Holy Father with Dr Tahirul Qadri’s cap.

He made fun of Dr Qadri by mocking him, saying ‘his cap looks like one that of the Pope’. He also said that Dr Qadri looks like a mini-Pope. Rehman Malik should have respect for the Holy Father who is the sole representative of the biggest religion of the world.

He has violated the constitution of Pakistan by his irresponsible statement and we, the Christians, condemn it. He must apologise publicly for hurting the religious sentiments of Christians.

Pakistan is already in a critical situation and such statements can be more harmful and can lead to another march to Islamabad by Christians.

ANJUM JAMES PAUL Chairman, Pakistan Minorities Teachers Association     Lahore

Affront

WILL the Chief Justice take notice of the remarks made by Rehman Malik for making fun of the attire of Dr Tahirul Qadri, calling him a semi-pope and ‘padri’?

This is an affront and has hurt the sentiments of Christians. Why was he so scared of Dr Qadri’s cap?

JOHNNY MATHEW Karachi

Opinion

Editorial

Exit strategy
Updated 18 Mar, 2026

Exit strategy

MOST members of the international community, particularly states in the greater Middle East, are gravely concerned...
Unsafe trains
18 Mar, 2026

Unsafe trains

SUNDAY’S accident involving the Shalimar Express has once again brought into sharp focus the deep structural and...
Disappointment in Dhaka
18 Mar, 2026

Disappointment in Dhaka

FOR a side looking for lift-off after a disappointing T20 World Cup, it was despair for Shaheen Shah Afridi’s ...
Missing in action
17 Mar, 2026

Missing in action

NOT exactly known for playing a proactive role in protecting the interests of Muslim nations and populations...
Risk to stability
Updated 17 Mar, 2026

Risk to stability

THE risks to Pakistan’s fragile economic recovery from the US-Israel war on Iran cannot be dismissed. Yet the...
Enrolment push
17 Mar, 2026

Enrolment push

THE federal government has embarked upon the welcome initiative to enrol 25,000 out-of-school children in Islamabad...