ASIA/PAKISTAN - Religious minorities: political leaders who take care of human rights are necessary

Wednesday, 20 June 2018 religious minorities   human rights  

Karachi (Agenzia Fides) - "We must look for political leaders willing to take care of our rights, challenges, problems, the development of our community and work to provide protection and integral promotion of minorities": said Catholic Peter Jacob Director of the "Social Justice Center", on the occasion of a recent Seminar held in Karachi on the theme "Elections 2018 and rights of religious minorities", in view of the political elections scheduled in Pakistan in July 2018.
As Fides learns, over 80 people including priests, political leaders, social assistants and human rights activists attended the co-organized meeting by the National Commission "Justice and Peace" (NCJP) of the Catholic Episcopal Conference.
Jacob noted: "Our Christian areas are not yet developed. The problems have been the same for decades. We should vote for candidates and political parties that really deal with minority rights issues". The participants highlighted the challenges that minorities face in their respective regions: government indifference, lack of water, problems regarding cleanliness and hygiene, abuses of fundamental rights, fear of being accused unfairly under blasphemy laws.
Riaz Nawab, social assistant, highlighted issues regarding the legislative assemblies: "The members selected to occupy the seats reserved for minorities in Parliament are not useful for the community, they do not visit the minority areas. They are chosen by political parties, they work only for them".
Those present asked for greater participation of religious minorities in the electoral process and a significant commitment by the candidates to take on the outstanding issues.
Jaipal Chabbria, a Hindu politician, told Fides: "If I am not considered a citizen of Pakistan because I am Hindu, this is discrimination, we should all be treated in the same way, not as Christian, Hindu or other religious minorities".
There was also discussion of the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling of 19 June 2014 on religious minorities and, among the proposals raised, it was asked to set up an autonomous National Commission to examine issues related to religious minorities. To promote religious tolerance and national cohesion, the Seminar indicated some essential points: to review the school and university draft curriculum and the 2017 education policy to eliminate discrimination based on religion; to set up a regulatory body for the full implementation of the 5% share of employment in public jobs reserved for religious minorities; to set up commissions at federal and provincial levels to ensure the respect and enforcement of the Supreme Court Ordinance of 19 June 2014, on the promotion of peace and the urgency of building a culture of religious and social tolerance. (AG) (Agenzia Fides, 20/6/2018)


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