NCHR to publish white paper on protection of minorities’ rights

Islamabad : A two-day National Convention on the June 19th Judgment (SMC 1/2014) concluded on Thursday with a resolve to publish a whitepaper outlining a comprehensive plan to protect the rights of minorities in Pakistan.

The Chairman of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) Justice (r) Ali Nawaz Chowhan addressed the concluding session and announced a committee comprising intellectuals and activists from across the country. Justice Chowhan said that the whitepaper would be submitted to the Parliament and Senate.

The two-day convention was organised by the NCHR in collaboration with Community World Service Asia. The agenda of the convention included the review of progress made so far, key successes achieved and challenges faced in the implementation of the Judgment.

The convention was attended by parliamentarians, members of the judiciary, bureaucrats, civil society, human rights activists and other representatives of society. Speaking on this occasion, Justice Ali Nawaz Chowhan said that the people who are denying the rights of minorities are doing a wrong; not only to other people but also to the pledge of our great Quaid.

He also stressed on Article 20 of the Constitution 1973 of Islamic Republic of Pakistan which gives freedom to profess religion and to manage religious institutions. Balochistan Public Service Commission Chairman Justice (r) Kailash Naath Kohli said extremism be removed and the subject of ethics should be introduced instead of Islamic studies for religious minorities.

Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Former Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC), talked about the importance of education in order to safeguard rights of the minorities. “If this nation has to rise, it has to invest in education. Education is the remedy to all sorts of discrimination. We should provide between 2000-4000 scholarships to the youth to encourage the youth towards higher education. It is our duty to provide equal opportunities to everyone,” he said.

“Our collective efforts have resulted in the approval of 5 per cent education quota for minorities. We need to motivate our youth to pursue education. We have to encourage equal quota in all tiers of government. No nation can progress unless it provides equal opportunities to all its citizens economically irrespective of their religion and beliefs," said Asiya Nasir, MNA JUI-F.

Justice (r) Ali Nawaz Chohan National Commission for Human Rights Pakistan expressed optimism regarding the impact this convention will have on the implementation of the judgment. “This convention will have a huge impact in highlighting the rights of minorities as outlined in the judgment and advocating the fact that the directives of Supreme Court are binding on everybody and the constitution of the land."