ASIA/PAKISTAN - Government's plan for the security of religious minorities

Thursday, 25 June 2015

Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - To improve the protection of religious minorities: with this objective, the Interior Minister of Pakistan, Chaudhry Nisar, asked the provincial government to carry out an internal investigation on the safety of minority communities and to prepare a special "security plan" for Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Ismailis and other groups. The request comes after a wave of attacks against ethnic and religious minorities. As Fides learns, the Minister has ordered that the places of worship of religious minorities are to be protected by police patrols in order to prevent violence, looting, attacks.
After the request of the Federal Ministry, the provincial government of Sindh has started the registration and monitoring of places of worship, in order to prepare adequate protection.
"Minorities in Pakistan have been under constant attack for decades, but governments have shown indifference towards the atrocities committed against them", notes the NGO "Claas" (Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement), with headquarters in Pakistan and the United Kingdom. "Implementing preventive measures is a step forward", says the note sent to Fides, hoping for an immediate implementation of the security plan. Alongside these measures it is "urgent to counter the extremist mentality and the growing hatred against Christians and other religious minorities living in Pakistan", said the organization, citing a need to intervene "on the legislation that discriminates against minorities". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 25/06/2015)


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