ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: In a bid to empower minorities and address key issues faced by religious communities, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and Peoples Commission for Minorities Rights (PCMR) convened a press conference at the National Press Club (NPC) in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The conference was addressed by Peter Jacob, Chairperson of the Peoples Commission for Minorities Rights, Dr. A.H. Nayyar, board member of CSJ, Nabila Feroze Bhatti, a columnist and human rights activist, Chaudhry Ashraf Farzand, former councilor, Jayaa Jaggi, a well-known human rights defender.
The speakers highlighted the following demands for resolving issues faced by religious minorities:
1) Incorporate Quaid-e-Azam’s speech on 11th August 1947 in both the Constitution and educational curricula.
2) Implement Article 22 (1) of the Constitution to ensure that learning instructions of singular majority religion is not mandatory for religious minorities.
3) Enact laws addressing child marriage and preventing forced marriages.
4) Establish an autonomous and empowered Commission for Minorities’ Rights at national and provincial levels through proper legislation.
5) Establish an independent and empowered committee mandated to implement the verdict of the Supreme Court (Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani) passed on June 19, 2014 for the protection of minorities’ rights.
Peter Jacob said, “Approximately 4 million minority voters in the country are expected to actively participate in the upcoming 2024 elections. Under the auspices of the Minority Forum Pakistan, a campaign has been initiated by the members of minority communities across Pakistan to press for a resolve of the most critical issue of positive inclusion and establishing equality of rights.”
Dr. A. H. Nayyar said, “Importantly, this grassroots campaign is sponsored by the common people of Pakistan. Members of the minority community are leveraging social media to express their opinions and muster support for their cause. This campaign follows up CSJ’s analysis of political party election manifestos in 2022 and their performance over the past 15 years, presented in the study namely, Promises to Keep and Miles to Go.”
Nabila Feroze Bhatti said, “This campaign is aimed at increasing awareness and strengthening discourse to draw attention to the persistent human rights issues faced by religious minorities, and to galvanize mobilization and carry out advocacy for minorities’ rights around the General Elections 2024. This campaign will contribute to the effective participation of minorities in the electoral process for a brighter future.”
Jayaa Jaggi said, “After the restoration of joint elections in 2002, minority voters can exercise their right to vote and stand as candidates on an equal footing. Political parties have established minority wings to ensure greater participation in party structures. Additionally, seats have been reserved in elected houses at all levels to facilitate their representation. Despite these strides, issues such as religious intolerance, systematic discrimination, and the structural exclusion of minorities persist. Therefore, this campaign, driven by the slogan “Main Bhi Pakistan Hun,” (I am also Pakistan) focuses on the equality of rights for all.”
 and Peoples Commission for Minorities Rights (PCMR) convened a press conference at the National Press Club (NPC) in Islamabad on Wednesday.){kind=link}