ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court on Monday reminded Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, all provincial chief ministers and other officials that it was awaiting reports about the enforcement of its verdict on the protection of minorities’ rights.
The Express Tribune has learnt that the SC’s office has sent reminders to the PM, all provincial CMs and chief secretaries, the law ministry, establishment division, inspectors general and others to submit their reports regarding measures taken for the implementation of its ruling.
Similarly, Justice Helpline — a non-governmental organisation whose petition had led to the suo motu notice — is expected to file its own plea over the non-implementation of court orders sometime early next week.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Justice Helpline’s (JH) president Nadeem Sheikh said that a plea had been drafted regarding the non-implementation of the court’s June 19 verdict about the protection of minority rights.
Sheikh added that an application will be filed within this week. They will also request the court to initiate contempt proceedings against the authorities concerned.
He said that they were skeptical of the prime minister’s promise of providing Rs0.5 million compensation in the Kot Radha Kishan case since the government has not even handed compensatory cheques to the families of the All Saints Church bombing victims.
The JH president expressed his disappointment on the incumbent’s failure to form a special bench to redress grievances of the minorities, as per the court order.
Earlier this year, former chief justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani had initiated suo motu proceedings after receiving a letter from the NGO Justice Helpline, regarding the suicide attack on the All Saints Church in Peshawar in which 81 lives were lost.
The Supreme Court in its ruling had asked the federal government to constitute a National Council for minorities’ rights.
Announcing a potentially landmark judgment on minorities’ rights, the supreme court also asked the government to form a special task force for the protection of worship places of minorities.
“A Special Police Force be established with professional training to protect the places of worship of minorities,” said the 32- page judgment, authored by former CJ Jillani.
The judgment read that in all cases of violation of any of the rights guaranteed under the law or desecration of the places of worship of minorities, the concerned law enforcing agencies should promptly take action including the registration of criminal cases against the delinquents.
“We find that the incidents of desecration of places of worship of minorities could be warded off if the authorities concerned had taken preventive measures at the appropriate time. The court also found that the inaction on the part of law enforcement agencies was on account of the lack of proper understanding of the relevant law.”
The apex court also asked to develop appropriate curricula at school and college level to promote the religious tolerance in the country.
“Appropriate curricula should be developed at school and college levels to promote a culture of religious and social tolerance.”
The court has also asked the federal government to take appropriate steps to ensure that hate speeches in social media are discouraged and the delinquents are brought to justice under the law.
In view of the statement made by Attorney General for Pakistan and Additional Advocate Generals of Punjab, K-P and Balochistan regarding reservation of quota for minorities in the federal and provincial services, the court has directed the federal and all provincial governments to ensure the enforcement of the relevant policy directives regarding reservation of quota for minorities in all services.
The court also pointed out that Balochistan chief secretary informed the SC registrar about 415 Hazaras who were killed on sectarian grounds in a period of 11 years.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2014.
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