Secretary briefed on minorities rights issues

LAHORE: A meeting was conducted by IMRF with Secretary Human Rights and Minority Affairs over the issue of implementation of the judgment passed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on 19-6-2014 and 16-04-2015 regarding rights of the minorities.

The meeting was initiated by Chairman Samuel and a briefing was given to Asim, secretary human rights and minorities, about the works of IMRF for the community on the broader spectrum.

They discussed many important points like registration of the Christian marriage in Nadra through Union Council Punjab, Minorities Rights Commission Bill 2016 Punjab, submitted by Shahzad Munshi MPA, awareness programmes, conferences, seminars in collaboration with HR & MA Department, condition to availability of funds, grant of NOC for construction of church and formation of the church committee. The aforesaid issues were discussed in the meeting at length and were appreciated by the secretary, who assured his cooperation on all the issues and said that since these are the genuine and legitimate rights also protected and guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan 1973, The government shall secure the fundamental rights of the minorities and shall provide every right on their doorstep.

Samuel said the marriages of the minorities are not being registered in different parts of the province which is a discrimination against the poor minorities that costs irreparable loss in their fates.

Asim, Secretary of HR&MA, affirmed that there is indeed lack of awareness in the institution and for that the Punjab government organised certain seminar and workshops for the awareness. So far the matter of the security of the churches, grant of NOC for the construction of churches and establishment of the church committee, the secretary HR&MA assured the delegates that appropriate and necessary action shall be initiated and the issues shall be resolved on the top priorities.