Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - There is a Christian woman among the candidates in the local elections in the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (in the north), set by the Election Commission of Pakistan for 30 May: the sociologist Hina Patras, 25, who presents herself in the district of Swat valley, known because in the past it was ruled by the Taliban groups who had created a real "state within a state", imposing their law on the population of the territory and closing or destroying hundreds of girls' schools.
Six years ago, the girls who lived in the Swat Valley could not leave their homes and their education was prohibited by the Taliban. The campaign for girls' education was born, whose protagonist was Malala Yousafzai, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.
Hina Patras, representative of the small Christian community of Swat, joined the ranks of the brave activists who promote the rights of women, the most vulnerable groups, religious minorities.
She is a social worker, and during her working experience she has come across the poor and marginalized: "The defense of their rights and the commitment to solve their problems led me to participate in the elections: I want to serve humanity regardless of religion and belief" she said. "In my work, when I meet poor communities, particularly women, my heart is overwhelmed. I wish they were happy and prosperous, with equal rights".
Especially Christians in the district of Swat "have no churches or cemeteries, they are discriminated against and are taken into consideration for the most menial jobs, though some have a high level of education", she says. In her program she claims she wants to focus on the violation of women's rights "because in this area domestic violence, underage marriages, acid attacks are widespread". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 06/05/2015)
