Provinces fail to adhere job quota for minorities in police: SC told

Sindh govt admitted that five per cent job quota in police dept for minorities has not been maintained since 2010.

ISLAMABAD: According to a report submitted by the Sindh government in the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday, Punjab and Sindh governments have failed to adhere to the five per cent job quota for minorities’ in the police department.

A three judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, had taken up the implementation of its June 19, 2014, judgment regarding protection of minorities’ rights.

The Sindh government admitted before SC that five per cent job quota in police department for minorities has not been maintained between 2010 and 2014. However, it defended the numbers by claiming that very few members of minorities had applied under general recruitment in various ranges or units of the Sindh police.

Additional Advocate General (AAG) Sindh Shafi Muhammad Chandio, while submitting the report in the apex court, said that 326 minorities have been appointed in the last five years.

According to the report, the police department has received 116,661 applications for the post of constable in 2014-15. Of these, 3,412 applications were from members of minorities.

In the Karachi range, 20,037 people applied for the post of constable. Of these only 76 applicants belonged to minority communities, the report said.

Meanwhile, Inspector General Punjab police Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera also submitted a report on the same matter. He said that 2,488 inspectors are working in the police department.

The report noted that 8,477 sub inspectors are currently working in the police department with 500 vacancies filled in 2014. Of these, only 17 belonged to minority communities have been recruited.

Similarly, 126,338 constables are working in Punjab police. In 2014, 4906 officials were recruited, of which only 61 were selected as part of the minority quota.

The report said that Punjab government is considering whether to form a ‘special task force’ of 16,800 police officials for the protection of worship places of minorities, adding that Rs52 billion will be allocated for this project.

All the chief secretaries and Inspector Generals (IGs) were present during Tuesday’s hearing.

The bench directed the Attorney General for Pakistan to ensure that the Hindu Marriage Bill is passed by the federal cabinet within two weeks.

The bench also asked the minority representatives to hold meetings with the federal and provincial governments on their issues and submit a report in this regard on February 11, 2015.

Forced conversions

During the course of proceedings, the Patron-in-chief of Pakistan Hindu Council Dr Ramesh Kumar had requested the bench to direct the Sindh government to hand over of two teenage Hindu girls over to their parents since they are living in shelters.

The bench, however, denied his plea, noting that the matter was sub-judice in the Sindh High Court (SHC).

AAG Sindh Chandio also submitted the details regarding forced conversions of Hindu girls.

The report said that a 13 year old Hindu girl named Anjli has been transferred from Daharki to Karachi and was confined in a shelter due to her age.

The report also mentioned an accused, Riaz, was facing trail in lower court under Sindh Marriage Restraining Act 2014. The SHC is expected to hear the case on January 15.

The report added that another girl, 14-year named Kiran embraced Islam and married a man named Qurban Ali.

She said in a statement before an Additional Sessions Judge that her present name was Fatima and that she was impressed by teachings of Islam and had entered into a contract marriage with Qurban, she further said that she was not willing to return with her parents.

On the basis of her statement, the judge on November 22, 2014, dismissed the case.

The report further cited the case of Sunainina, who was allegedly kidnapped on October 4, 2014, and recovered on November 20.

Another girl named Jyoti embraced Islam and married Abdul Wasay with her consent.

The hearing of this case is adjourned until February 11, 2015.