Punjab Cabinet Disparity: 5,649 Sikhs Get a Seat, While 2,708,640 Christians and Hindus Are Left Out

Nawaz Salamat has been living in Denmark for the last 22 years, yet his life remains deeply rooted in a powerful legacy of justice that began long before his birth in Rawalpindi on May 7, 1980. His story traces back to 1972, when the state nationalized private institutions under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. When Christian schools and hospitals were seized, Nawaz’s father, the prominent leader Prof. Salamat Akhtar, mobilized massive protests. Prof. Akhtar famously refused government bribes intended to silence his voice. The subsequent state crackdown resulted in the tragic killing of two young Christian men: R.M. James and Nawaz Masih. On that day, Prof. Akhtar vowed to name his future sons after these first martyrs—a promise fulfilled with the birth of Nawaz Salamat. Growing up, Nawaz experienced the high cost of activism firsthand. His family endured years of retaliation, including fabricated legal cases, forced rural transfers, and the disconnection of their electricity and water. They survived severe financial hardships, often eating a single meal a day and studying by candlelight, yet his father never bent. Following Prof. Akhtar’s passing in 2022, Nawaz stepped forward from the diaspora to ensure this mission lives on. For him, fighting for the vulnerable is not just activism—it is a lifelong conviction forged in the trials of his childhood. Today, he champions the cause from Denmark, advocating tirelessly for the equal rights of religious minorities in Pakistan, the protection of persecuted communities, and the advancement of interfaith harmony. Nawaz stands as the living bridge between a father's sacred promise and a generation's journey toward dignity. ************************************ Shakil Chaudhary is a journalist, author, and researcher. He is an alumnus of Government College, Lahore. He later studied International Relations at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, and Media and Communications at the London School of Economics. Over the years, he has worked for several leading English-language newspapers and a few other organizations. He is the author of “Handbook of Functional English.” These are some of his notable interviews: 👉 Sardar Masood Khan, former president, AJK, Part 1: https://youtu.be/h0jFAudsDuM 👉 Sardar Masood Khan, former president, AJK, Part 2: https://youtu.be/0esgmmI8XGE 👉 Ambassador Abdul Basit: https://youtu.be/qxWeiIzwskI 👉 Lt. Gen. Asad Durrani: https://youtu.be/x3mdfAklix0 👉 Shahid Siddiqui, a former member of India’s parliament: https://youtu.be/hRDiEe90z6Y You’re welcome to follow him on Facebook and Twitter. 👉 https://www.facebook.com/shakil.chaudhary/ 👉 https://x.com/ShakChaudhary