ID :
136266
Thu, 08/05/2010 - 10:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/136266
The shortlink copeid
Pak Hindu youth's coffin labelled as 'kaafir'
Islamabad, Aug 4 (PTI) The coffin of a promising young
Pakistani Hindu social worker, killed in the recent airliner
crash here, has been marked as "kaafir" or infidel, causing
anguish and revulsion among his friends and netizens.
Prem Chand, 25, a bright spark from the minority Hindu
community, was a member of the National Youth Parliament and
was heading to Islamabad from Karachi to attend the
organisation's last session when the Airblue flight crashed
into the Margalla Hills on July 28, killing all 152 people on
board.
Ehsan Naveed Irfan, a youth parliamentarian who
identified Prem Chand's body, said the coffin was first marked
in black with the word "kaafir" and this was then highlighted
in red.
After identifying Prem Chand's body, his friends
covered this by writing: "We love you – from the youth
parliament".
Since the day after the crash members of youth
parliament have been protesting against the marking on his
coffin.
Muneeb Afzal, another member of the Youth Parliament,
said a mutual friend had covered the word "kaafir" on Prem
Chand's coffin at the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical
Sciences before his cousin Nanak Das could see it.
"It was shocking. He could have been marked as Hindu
or non-Muslim, but using the word 'kaafir' is the worst
example of intolerance," Afzal said.
Afzal said he was aware that the marking of Prem
Chand's coffin was not an "an official act" or "some state
sponsored standard procedure", yet it was "important for the
authorities to investigate and punish those responsible, and
set an example for future".
"Intolerance must not be tolerated. To tolerate it, or
justify it, is to accept it," he said.
"He (Prem Chand) called himself a social worker. No
person has the right to decide who goes to heaven or hell,"
said another youth parliamentarian at a condolence meeting
held for the six members who died in the crash.
Badeel Khan Janjua, who designed the T-shirt with the
message 'I am Premchand, Label me kaafir', suggested that a
"kaafir day" be celebrated in Pakistan. PTI RHL
RDM
Pakistani Hindu social worker, killed in the recent airliner
crash here, has been marked as "kaafir" or infidel, causing
anguish and revulsion among his friends and netizens.
Prem Chand, 25, a bright spark from the minority Hindu
community, was a member of the National Youth Parliament and
was heading to Islamabad from Karachi to attend the
organisation's last session when the Airblue flight crashed
into the Margalla Hills on July 28, killing all 152 people on
board.
Ehsan Naveed Irfan, a youth parliamentarian who
identified Prem Chand's body, said the coffin was first marked
in black with the word "kaafir" and this was then highlighted
in red.
After identifying Prem Chand's body, his friends
covered this by writing: "We love you – from the youth
parliament".
Since the day after the crash members of youth
parliament have been protesting against the marking on his
coffin.
Muneeb Afzal, another member of the Youth Parliament,
said a mutual friend had covered the word "kaafir" on Prem
Chand's coffin at the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical
Sciences before his cousin Nanak Das could see it.
"It was shocking. He could have been marked as Hindu
or non-Muslim, but using the word 'kaafir' is the worst
example of intolerance," Afzal said.
Afzal said he was aware that the marking of Prem
Chand's coffin was not an "an official act" or "some state
sponsored standard procedure", yet it was "important for the
authorities to investigate and punish those responsible, and
set an example for future".
"Intolerance must not be tolerated. To tolerate it, or
justify it, is to accept it," he said.
"He (Prem Chand) called himself a social worker. No
person has the right to decide who goes to heaven or hell,"
said another youth parliamentarian at a condolence meeting
held for the six members who died in the crash.
Badeel Khan Janjua, who designed the T-shirt with the
message 'I am Premchand, Label me kaafir', suggested that a
"kaafir day" be celebrated in Pakistan. PTI RHL
RDM
