Small Baha'i Community Largely Avoids Political Involvement

June 7, 2004

Source: Daily Times

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_7-6-2004_pg7_21

On June 7, 2004 the Daily Times reported, "There are no more than 250 Bahai families in Lahore, which might explain why their voices are heard so rarely. But Muhammed Riaz Shahid, a local representative of the Bahai community, mentions another reason for the relative quiet surrounding these people. 'As a community we believe in staying away from politics, conflicts and all manner of social dispute,' he says. He recalls an incident that took place a few years back when some representatives of the Bahai community visited the Punjab Governor at the Governor’s House. 'After we presented him with our religious book, the Governor asked us if there were any demands we wished to make on the Punjab government. We told him we were satisfied with all that we had and so surprised was he at this response, he took us on a special tour of Governor House.' Things have changed since then and the Bahais of Lahore are now expressing the need for a proper graveyard. 'Currently, we bury our dead in a small area off the University of Engineering and Technology but that plot of land can hardly be described as a proper graveyard. We would like to request the local government to allot an area for this purpose even if it is a small one,' said Riaz Shahid. Considering that other minorities such as the eunuchs and the Hindus have been trying to obtain some political standing, is it safe to assume that a future candidate will emerge from amongst the Bahais too? 'No,' comes the stern answer, 'according to the dictates of our religion, we are not allowed to nurture political aspirations,' said Mr Shahid, when talking to Daily Times from his office at Bahai Hall."