NCHR holds consultation on minority rights

Islamabad : The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) commemorated National Minority Day by organising a stakeholder’s meeting focused on the protection and promotion of minority rights in Pakistan. The meeting featured key stakeholders, including representatives from minority communities, legal professionals, and human rights advocates and was marked by a series of insightful discussions highlighting critical issues affecting minorities.

In light of the discussions, a conference for legal professionals was proposed to draft specific family laws for minority communities. After opening remarks by Member Minority NCHR Manzoor Masih, Secretary NCHR Rana Ghulam Murtaza opened the floor by addressing the gap between existing legal frameworks designed to protect minority rights and their ineffective implementation. Pandit Rakesh underscored the historical contributions of minorities to Pakistan's development, stressing the importance of the NCHR and other commissions in overcoming ongoing challenges.

Ranjeet Singh, former MPA from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), raised concerns about the financial exploitation of underprivileged minorities in KPK, particularly through “interest traps” that disproportionately affect these communities. Waheed from the Pakistan Partnership Initiative (PPI) brought attention to the alarming issue of forced conversions and underage marriages, highlighting difficulties in age verification and alleged corruption among NADRA officials. Advocate Saima Khokhar highlighted the absence of codified laws for family court proceedings and inheritance within minority communities. She proposed a dedicated conference involving legal professionals to address these legal gaps. Former Member of the National Assembly (MNA), Asia Nazir, emphasized the need to incorporate Quaid-e-Azam’s August 11th speech on minority rights into the educational curriculum and addressed the rising extremism affecting minorities.

Nazir also voiced concerns over the non-implementation of quotas for minorities in higher education. Dr. Shoaib Sadal, Chairperson of the One Man Commission (OMC), provided an update on the 5 per cent employment quota for minorities. He reported significant progress, with 18,000 out of 31,000 positions filled through the OMC's efforts, including a special CSS exam held in 2023.

Dr. Sadal encouraged further community investment in education, citing the Hazara community's successful initiative to establish high-quality coaching centres. The consultation concluded with Manzoor Masih reiterating the NCHR's unwavering commitment to safeguarding minority rights. He emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and action to ensure the protection and promotion of minority rights in Pakistan.