Minorities enjoy equal rights in Pakistan: minister

LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Human Rights & Minority Affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu has said that people of different faiths are equal citizens of Pakistan and all the religious minorities are enjoying equal rights according to the Constitution of Pakistan

The Holi festival promotes a sense of service along with infusing the sentiments of unity of colours. He expressed these views in a special ceremony of Hindu festival Holi held at Aiwan-e-Iqbal which was organised by Human Rights & Minority Affairs department. MPA Kanji Ram, MPA Shakeel Awan, Doctor Majeed Abel, Secretary HR&MA Asim Iqbal, Fozia Ayub, members of the district council, representatives of HR&MA students from Nepal, Sikh community and a huge gathering of Hindu community were present there. The minister said Holi promotes a passion of brotherhood and goodwill among the people and this festival is also a symbol of happiness. On 11th August, 1947, the Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had said that you are free to go to your worship places and in the tenure of the PML-N all the religious minorities are enjoying equal rights according to the Constitution of Pakistan. The minister said Pakistan has become the first country in the world to introduce legislation for the registration of Sikh marriages. He said hopefully the Punjab government would announce soon public holiday on Easter and other festivals of Hindus. On the request of minister Khalil Tahir Sandhu, all the audience kept silence for one minute to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Raiwind incident. Kanji Ram, MPA said that before the election Hindu Marriage Act will also be passed by the parliamentarians.