Sir: Only if someone ever gets a chance to spend a night in an ordinary Christian family living in a slum, could one realise the agony these people face every hour of their lives. The irony is that the Christian leadership has become a lame duck and is doing nothing to serve its community. Even Shahbaz Bhatti, the former federal minister for minorities, had been working for his self-interest. The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, for years now, has become a rubber stamp that creates fake arguments for the betterment of the community, while in the secrecy of the corridors of power they toe the line of the ruling elite. The fact is that the poor Christians have no true representation. Those having the power and guts to speak up had left the country either by seeking asylum abroad or otherwise. What had Bhatti done or what is his brother doing, a minister now, for the community? How many educational, technical and vocational institutions have been set up to serve the community? What solid steps were taken to empower the youth for their economic growth? How many students have been sponsored for higher studies? Even the current sitting ministers across the country lack a plan to support the talented ones from the Christian community. They are the ‘yes men’ of their bosses. Why have the Christian leaders forgotten their origins and identity? It’s an alarming situation. While presenting their case abroad, we expect our leaders to speak the truth, which is not being done so far. We are under increasing threat from the Taliban. They have been able to convert the Kalash people to Islam. The Taliban spokesman had recently threatened the Kalash tribes to completely convert or face death. “By the grace of Allah, an increasing number of people from the Kalash tribe are embracing Islam and we want to make it clear to the Kalash tribe that they will be eliminated along with their protectors, the western agents, if they don’t embrace Islam,” he said. The constitution of Pakistan speaks of freedom of speech and the right to freely belong to any religion, but the presence of fanatics like the Taliban and the way the government has bowed down to them has raised the fear that we might one day become an extinct species in the country. There is an urgent need to establish equality, social justice and peace. In reference to the ongoing persecution and discrimination suffered by the Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan, notably the Ahmadiyyas and the Shias, it is the duty of the government of Pakistan to protect them under the constitution of Pakistan. Shamim MasihIslamabad