The office of the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) has expressed concern over the failure of various federal ministries for submitting progress report regarding implementation of the Supreme Court’s June 19 judgment pertaining to protection of the rights of minorities in the country.
Deputy Attorney General Sohail Mahmood has sent reminders to secretaries of ministry of law, interior, education and information & broadcasting, seeking progress reports about the implementation of the June 19 order, an official at the attorney general’s office said.
The top court has fixed the matter regarding the implementation of its verdict on protection of minorities’ rights on December 16. Notices have also been issued to all provinces for submitting their reports in this matter.
DAG Sohail Mahmood has already submitted reports of ministry of religious affairs and harmony and establishment division and Capital Administration Development Division (CADD). However the reports of ministries of law, interior, education and information & broadcasting were still awaited.
Minority report
Meanwhile, Patron of Pakistan Hindu Council and PML-N MNA Dr Ramesh Kumar while talking to The Express Tribune said that in compliance of the top court’s November 25 order, they have submitted their written grievances in this case.
He has informed the apex court that despite its June 19 order, no task force has been established to protect the worship places of minorities. Kumar rejecting the constitution of National Commission for Minorities stated that this commission should be headed by the prime minister.
Dr Ramesh also complained that despite their several requests, NADRA and respective local government ministries have failed to ratify the mistakes in Hindu marriage register certificate.
He also says that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government could not get vacated the land of a Hindu shrine that has been encroached upon in Karak district. In the month of June, K-P government had admitted that local clerics illegally occupied the land of a Hindu shrine.
Landmark judgement
Earlier this year, former chief justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani had initiated suo motu proceedings after receiving a letter from Justice Helpline regarding the suicide attack on the All Saints Church in Peshawar in which 81 people were killed.
The apex court in its ruling had asked the federal government to constitute a national council for minorities’ rights.
Announcing a potentially landmark judgement on minorities’ rights, the Supreme Court also asked the government to form a special task force for the protection of worship places of minorities.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2014.
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