Seminar calls for protecting minorities’ rights

Participants urge tolerance and respect for other religions

QUETTA: Representatives of civil society and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have laid stress on implementing minorities’ rights according to the Constitution, as Islam teaches peace, tolerance and respect for other religions.

This was highlighted during a two-day seminar on awareness related to the rights of minorities organised by Health and Rural Development (HARD) Balochistan at Quetta Press Club (QPC) on Friday.

The QPC Secretary General Zafar Baloch, social activists Zia Baloch, Mir Behram Lehri, Baram Baloch and other speakers were present on the occasion.

They said Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had presented the vision of an Islamic state before the independence and vowed to protect minorities’ rights. It is important that minorities’ issues are highlighted on the media for their solution, they added.

A number of people belonging to different minority groups, including the Hazara community attended the seminar. Speakers said Islam teaches peace, love and interfaith harmony, and to respect other religions.

They said the religion also preached its followers to protect the rights of minorities and safeguard their lives and properties.  Just like in other parts of the country, they said, minorities of Quetta and other parts of the province are facing many problems.

Dignitaries underscored the need for keeping differences aside and working collectively so that conspiracies against the country could be foiled. They also lamented that the government only makes statements regarding minorities but does not fulfil its obligations.

The civil society was also urged to play its role in highlighting core issues of minorities so that they can get media attention.