KARACHI, Aug 11: Speakers at a rally on Thursday demanded repeal of all laws discriminatory against the vulnerable sections of the society, including women and minorities.

The rally was organized by the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) and addressed by its leaders Micheal Javed, Shahzadi Micheal, Nancy Rafiq, Kauser Javed, Iqbal, Rafiq and others.

They said that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had not intended to make Pakistan a religious state as was clear from his announcement in his first speech in the assembly that “in Pakistan, everybody would be free to go to its religious places and that everyone, regardless of his caste, colour or creed, would be equal in the eyes of the law.”

Unfortunately, they said, successive governments failed to keep in mind the vision of the Quaid-i-Azam and looked the other way when the forces of extremism, sectarianism, etc. got stronger. “It is because of such forces that Pakistan has now become a target of criticism from other countries,” they claimed.

Criticizing the Hasba Bill, they demanded that not only this one, but all other such bills and laws which were discriminatory against minorities, womenfolk and other vulnerable sections of the society be abolished. They also demanded representation of minorities in assemblies in accordance with their population.

The demonstrators were carrying banners and chanting slogans in support of their demands.

Later, they took out a procession and which culminated at the Mazar of the Quaid-i-Azam where its participants laid a floral wreath.