Sindh’s law officer tells SC few minority members apply for police jobs. STOCK IMAGE
The Punjab and Sindh governments have failed to adhere to the 5% job quota allocated for minorities in the police department.
Submitting a report to the Supreme Court on recruitment of minority community members, the Sindh government has admitted that 5% job quota in the police department for minorities has not been maintained from 2010 to 2014, arguing that very few people from the minority groups apply for positions in police.
Additional Advocate General (AAG) Sindh Shafi Muhammad Chandio informed the apex court that 326 people from the minority communities have been appointed so far during the last five years.
For the post of constable, the report reveals that the police department has received 116,661 applications in 2014-15, of which 3,412 applications were from minorities.
In Karachi range, 20,037 people have applied for the post of constable, wherein only 76 applicants belonged to minorities, it adds.
Meanwhile, IG Punjab Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera, while submitting a report on similar subject, told the SC that 2,488 inspectors are working in the police department. He did not clarify how many of them represented the minority groups. The report states that 8,477 sub-inspectors are working in the police department and 500 vacancies were filled in 2014. Of them, 17 persons are from the minorities.
Similarly, 126,338 constables are working in Punjab police. Some 4,906 officials were recruited last year. Of them only 61 were hired against the minority quota, according to the report.
The Punjab government is considering constituting a ‘special task force’ of 16,800 policemen for the protection of places of worship of minority communities. It is said that Rs52 billion will be allocated for the purpose.
Furthermore, the three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, on Tuesday took up the matter related to the implementation of the June 19, 2014 judgment regarding protection of minorities’ rights.
The bench directed the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) to ensure passage of the Hindu Marriage Act Bill from the federal cabinet within two weeks.
The bench has also asked the representatives of the minority community to hold meetings with the federal and provincial government authorities on their issues and submit a report in this regard on February 11.
During the course of proceedings, the Patron-in-chief of Pakistan Hindu Council Dr Ramesh Kumar requested the bench to direct the Sindh government about handing over of two teenage Hindu girls to their parents as they are residing in shelter homes.
The bench, however, declined his plea saying that the matter is already sub judice in the Sindh High Court.
AAG Sindh Shafi Muhammad Chandio also submitted details about the alleged forced conversion of Hindu girls.
The report says that Anjli, 13, a Hindu girl, has been transferred from Daharki to Karachi and confined in a shelter home due to age factor and the accused Riaz, who is a Muslim, is facing trial in lower court under Sindh Marriage Restraining Act 2014. The SHC will take up the same case on January 15.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2015.
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Government of Pakistan and all other departments are playing with Minorities since the Beginning of Pakistan. They make fool us, but they don't know that if Sp Singha does not cast his Vote, Pakistan does not exist.