The Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights (PCHR) has called for fresh national efforts to build an inclusive Pakistan where citizens of all faiths and backgrounds can participate equally in society.
At a media briefing on Thursday, PCHR Executive Director Shafique Chaudhry, Director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace Naeem Yousaf Gill, and rights activist Tanveer Jahan urged policymakers, parliamentarians, and civil society to reclaim Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's vision of a Pakistan where religion would remain a personal matter and all citizens would enjoy equal rights.
Chaudhry said the Constitution already provides a strong foundation for equality through Articles 25, 27, and 36, which prohibit discrimination and safeguard minority rights. However, he noted that systemic barriers and weak enforcement continue to undermine participation, particularly because of the state's failure to fully implement the Supreme Court's landmark 2014 judgment on minority rights.
Highlighting persistent inequalities, Jahan pointed out that the 5% job quota for minorities remains largely unfulfilled, with over 70% of reserved posts lying vacant. She added that many minorities are still confined to sanitation work despite higher qualifications, with some job advertisements openly restricting them to low-grade positions.
On education, Jahan said nearly 60% of minority students face discrimination in schools, including segregation and pressure to study religious subjects not related to their faith. In Sindh, 44% of minority children are out of school, far above the national average of 27%. University quota seats for minority students also go unfilled due to financial and structural barriers.
"These figures speak to the urgent need for real action to make equality and inclusion a lived reality rather than just a constitutional promise," she emphasised.
Gill acknowledged some positive steps, such as separate CSS exams for minority candidates and preparatory courses, but stressed the need to institutionalize and expand such measures for long-term inclusivity.
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