Senate panel fine-tunes proposals for National Minorities Commission

ISLAMABAD: The subcommittee of the Senate Functional Committee for Human Rights has finalised its report on the recommendations for the National Commission for Minorities, Bill 2025. It will be submitted to the Senate Functional Committee.

Chaired by Senator Ali Zafar, the meeting of the sub-committee was held here at Parliament House. The subcommittee was constituted to review the National Commission for Minorities Bill 2025, to establish the National Minorities Commission. It reached consensus on two key points. First, the nomination for the National Commission for Minorities will be shortlisted within 30 days, and the constitution of the commission will be completed within 45 days. Second, the minimum age for nominated members will be 35 years.

Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said according to the PM’s directives, the National Commission for Minorities will consist of eight members, four from the government and four representing the parliament. Besides, the Speaker National Assembly will nominate four members of the Parliamentary Committee, with two from the treasury and two from the opposition benches.

Similarly, the chairman Senate will follow suit. Two minority members from each province, not younger than 35 years and possessing considerable knowledge and practical experience in Human Rights advocacy, will also be included in the commission. The recommended timelines for the process were a maximum of 45 to 60 days.