National convention: Govt slammed for 'inaction' over minorities rights

Panelists note federal govt 'failure' to implement SC judgment for providing protection for religious minorities

ISLAMABAD: The panelists at a national convention have expressed dissatisfaction over the 'government failure' to fully implement the Supreme Court judgment of June 19, 2014 for providing protection for religious minorities.

The two-day convention was organsied on Wednesday by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) in collaboration with the Community World Service Asia.

Parliamentarians, bureaucrats, human rights activists and a former high court judge were among the panelists who expressed discontent during the inaugural session of the event.

According to the panelists, religious minorities in Pakistan continue to become victim of extremism and sectarian violence, and the actions demanded in line with the landmark court judgment are missing.

The judgment had been passed by the Supreme Court over a suo motu notice of an attack at the All Saints Church in Peshawar on September 22, 2013 that claimed the lives of more than 127 members of the Christian community and injured 250 others when they were busy worshipping. The judgment, referenced SME1/2014, included a series of directions for the government to uphold and protect minorities' rights.



Speaking at the convention, NCHR's Chaudhry Shafique said, "A lot has been written and said in the media and parliament about the rights of minorities and on this particular judgment. Progress on this judgment of the Supreme Court is needed and that is what we look forward to today." He asked the stakeholders to share their views 'openly' and 'boldly' with the NHCR.

Member National Assembly Dr Ramesh Kumar stressed the need for implementing the SC judgment in its full spirit. He called it 'the need of the hour', lamenting that the lives of many people belonging to different religions were in danger due to extremism in Pakistan.

NCHR Chairman Justice (retd) Ali Nawaz Chohan said the Quaid-i-Azam had declared that minorities were free to go to their places of worship and practise their religion. He had also promised protection and respect for minorities like a true Muslim, he added.

Chohan said the convention had engaged several relevant stakeholders in determining a way forward for realising social and legislative equality for minority communities by implementing the SC judgment in letter and spirit.

Later, there was a focused session on how to go about ensuring implementation on jobs quota and education quota for minorities.