Kasur: A troubling incident of religious discrimination took place in Kasur, where the management of Al-Ghani Marriage Hall refused to book a wedding for a Christian couple solely based on their faith. The incident occurred on September 30, 2024, when Majid, also known as Vicky, a resident of Latif Pura, approached the hall manager to secure a booking for his sister’s wedding.
Majid explained that while all arrangements were being finalized, the hall manager inquired about their religion. Upon learning that they were Christians, the manager refused to proceed with the booking on religious grounds. The manager stated that, following the hall owners' orders, Christians were not allowed to hold events at the venue.
This act of discrimination deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the Christian community, highlighting the challenges faced by minorities in Pakistan. Majid emphasized that the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan guarantees equal religious and social rights to all citizens, including minorities. However, incidents like this make Christians feel unsafe in their own country.
Majid reported the case to provincial minister Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora and other senior leaders, but unfortunately, no significant response was received.
He has called for legal action against the owners of Al-Ghani Marriage Hall to prevent the spread of religious hatred and to protect the rights of minorities in Pakistan. Additionally, when the matter was taken to the District Kasur Meesaq Center, the in-charge contacted the hall manager. The manager admitted over the phone that they do not allow Christians to hold events at the venue due to religious reasons.
Tahir Tufail, a human rights coordinator, Meesaq Center member, and social worker, also commented on the situation. He stated that members of the community had brought the issue to his attention. "We have filed a formal complaint at the Meesaq Center and submitted an application to the Deputy Commissioner (DC). The DC promised to summon the hall owner and update us, but no response has been received so far."
Tahir further added, "I posted about the incident on social media and notified all relevant political Christian leaders, but no action has been taken. Our minority ministers, MPAs, and MNAs have also failed to address this issue. It is crucial that such matters are resolved so that other Christian families don’t have to face similar discrimination in the future."
