Aid for religious minorities drying up

Indifference continues in other benevolent schemes as well

ISLAMABAD: State assistance to needy people belonging to the religious minorities has been falling sharply since Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz came to power more than three years back, the upper house of parliament has been informed.

Financial assistance is granted on the recommendation of 14 federal lawmakers – 10 MNAs and four senators, said Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, citing official figures in response to questions raised by Senator Gianchand.



The minister said that financial assistance amounting to Rs77.64 million had been granted to needy persons of minority communities over the past five years. Some 4,491 individuals had been granted Rs21.39 million in 2011-12 while in 2012-13, this amount declined to just Rs3.37 million distributed among 2,838 deserving people.

In 2013-14, he said, Rs19.78 million had been granted to 2,786 persons while in 2014-15 the grant shrank to Rs17.89 million.

The amount further declined to Rs15.21 million in 2015-16, benefiting 2,640 needy individuals. The money allocated and spent for development, repair and rehabilitation of religious places of minority communities during the same period had also declined.

In 2012, no scheme had been initiated for development or repair of religious places of minorities and ‘devolution’ was cited as the reason. In 2012-13, however, Rs107.80 million had been spent on 70 small schemes. During the ongoing financial year, an amount of Rs61.23 million has been allocated for 44 schemes.

Minority festivals dropped

The federal government arranged just one festival for minorities out of six planned since January 2016. Remainder of the festivals could not be arranged because of various reasons.

In response to another query submitted by Senator Dr Jahanzeb Jamaldini about steps taken for promoting inter-faith harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf stated that the government had arranged/planned six festivals for minority groups. However, only the festival for the Bahai community, Eid-Ridwan was arranged in Islamabad on April 29, this year.

Holi, celebrated by the Hindu community, was planned on March 31 this year, but it was postponed because of agitation by some religious parties in Islamabad, the minister said.

Similarly, Easter, celebrated by the Christian community, planned on April 4 this year was also postponed because of a terrorist attack in Lahore.

Minority Day was also postponed this year because of terrorist attack on a hospital in Quetta. This festival was to be arranged on August 11 this year.

The Nouroze festival observed by the Parsi community this year was also postponed because of the Hajj Operation. It was supposed to be arranged on August 17 this year.

Hindu community’s Diwali was planned on October 31 this year but it was postponed because of a terrorist attack in Quetta.

Minorities’ quota in ETPB ignored

The Evacuee Trust Board Property (ETBP) had not observed five per cent job quota allocated for persons of minority communities.

Responding to a question raised by Senator Gianchand, the minister for religious affairs maintained that appointments were made over and above the sanctioned strength in the board, adding that in future, the quota would be strictly observed.

Cases in this regard had been referred to NAB and FIA, the minister stated.

This amount further reduced to Rs15.21 million in the financial year 2015-16 while 2640 needy individuals belonging to the minorities could benefit. Indifference on part of successive governments to the issues of minorities continues in other benevolent schemes.

Like direct financial scheme for needy people belonging to minorities, more are less same is the case with the amount which was allocated and spent on development, repairing and rehabilitation of religious places of minorities in the country during the same period.

In 2012 no scheme was initiated for development, repairing of religious places of minorities. Ministry claimed ‘devolution’ being reason for that, adding that matters related to worship places  were handed over to provinces after 18th amendment in the constitution.

However, in 2012-13, Rs107.80 million were allocated/spent for 70 small schemes and in 2013-14 the sanctioned schemes and funds reduced drastically. During this financial year Rs61.23 million were allocated/spent on 44 schemes. In 2014-15 the sanctioned amount reduced to Rs50.83 million for 52 small developmental schemes.

In financial year 2015-16 both developmental schemes and sanctioned amount for them decreased. During this year for 42 schemes Rs51 million were allocated. A total of Rs270.86 million were allocated/spent during five years for 208 small developmental schemes which were specific to monitories.

Festivals for minorities dropped: The federal government could arrange only festival for minorities out of six which were planned for the promotion of inter-faith harmony in the country since January 2016. Rest of the festivals could not take place due to one or other reason.

In response to another query which was placed by Senator Dr Jahanzeb Jamaldini about the steps which have been taken to promote inter-faith harmony in the country, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf stated that  the government arranged/planned six festival for the persons belonging to the religious minorities. However, only the festival for Bahai’s community,  Eid-Ridwan-2016 was arranged in Islamabad on April 29, 2016.

Holy-2016 of Hindu Community was planned to be arranged on March 31, 2016 but it was postponed due to the agitation of some religious parties in Islamabad, the minister said.

Likewise, Easter-2016 of Christian community which was planned to be arranged on April 4 was also postponed due to terrorist attack in Gulshan Abad Lahore.

Minority Day-2016 was also postponed due to terrorist attack in a hospital in Quetta. This festival was supposed to be arranged on August 11, 2016. Same has been the case with the festival of Nouroze-2016 which was also postponed due to Hajj Operation. It was supposed to be arranged on August 17 this year.

5% quota in ETPB ignored

Responding to the question of Senator Gianchand the minister for religious affairs maintained that five percent quota in appointments reserved for minorities could not be implemented. He said the ex chairman of ETBP did not observe the five percent quota for the minorities. According to the minister appointments were made over and above the sanctioned strength in the board and once vacancies according to the rules are corrected in future Minorities Quota shall be observed. The cases have been referred to NAB and FIA, further stated.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2016.