Important contribution: ‘Minorities play key role in country’s development’

Roghani urges minority legislators to include issues on assembly agenda

PESHAWAR: Minorities have played an important role in the progress and development of Pakistan and rendered sacrifices for the country at every level.

These views were expressed by K-P Assembly Deputy Speaker Mehar Taj Roghani during a meeting with minority MPAs at the Provincial Assembly Chamber on Tuesday. The meeting was held under the auspices of the PEAD Foundation. The meeting was attended by PEAD Foundation Executive Director Askar Pervez, senior coordinator Samina Imtiaz and others.



On the occasion, Roghani urged the minority legislators to include their issues on the agenda of the assembly so they could be provided a full opportunity to discuss them on the floor. “We, the minority representatives, hardly get any opportunity during the assembly sessions to present our issues,” Fredrick Azeem, a minority MPA, said.

Azeem added he proposed a bill for more seats for minorities in professional colleges, which is still pending. He demanded that there should be more seats for minorities in professional colleges, particularly medical and engineering universities.

He added that the issue of Minority Education Commission needs to be addressed urgently as a bill is already presented in the assembly. He demanded a commission be formed to deal with the issues of
education policies.

While responding to their suggestions and concerns, PEAD executive director said though he was an equal member of the assembly, he was still facing discrimination and was never given a chance to speak on point of order. He said due to complicated rules of business and procedures, the real issues of minorities do not get highlighted.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2016.