Human rights: Needed: a just, tolerant society

Speakers say equal treatment of citizens imperative for a democratic system.

LAHORE: “Ziaul Haq oppressed not only the minorities but the entire population in the country,” Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Minister Tahir Khalil Sindhu said on Tuesday.

He was speaking at the inaugural session of Sanjha Pakistan, a network of 20 civil rights organisations.

Sindhu said it was time for “like-minded” people to come together for their fundamental rights. “Fundamental rights accrue naturally; the Constitution only guarantees these,” he said.

He said Shahbaz Bhatti, the slain minister, had campaigned for a whole year to ensure that assembly seats reserved for minorities were carried forward and not turned into general seats in the absence of candidates.

Citing the incidents of Kot Radha Kishan and Youhanabad, Sindhu said mobs had passed judgements on their own. “The instigation of a group to further one’s aims and agendas is not justified,” he said.

Javed William, the focal person for Sanjha Pakistan, introduced its vision and principles. He said these had been agreed following intensive discussions between various civil society organisations. He said that the organisation was committed to creating a fair and tolerant society. He said such a society would protect minorities’ rights to equal citizenship. He said that providing protection to minorities was necessary for the country’s development.

Centre for Human Rights Education Director Samson Salamat said equal treatment of all citizens was imperative for a democratic system. He said the freedom of expression was being curbed in Pakistan. “This is particularly true of human rights activists in the country,” he said.

Salamat provided an overview of the minorities’ condition in the country.

He praised an anti-terrorism court for convicting those who had attacked a vigil held for the late governor Salmaan Taseer.

He said that minorities had been largely ignored within the political mainstream. “They are not consulted for important policymaking such as the National Action Plan against terrorism.”

Advocate Suba Saroya spoke about the status of minorities vis-à-vis the country’s Constitution.

He said some of the clauses discriminated against minorities. These included those not allowing them to become president or prime minister, he said.

Former human rights and minorities minister Jamshed Rehmatullah talked about the Supreme Court’s judgement last year to protect the worship places of minority communities.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2015.