PESHAWAR: Representa-tives of a civil society organisation have demanded of the government to take effective steps for ensuring protection of lives and properties of non-Muslims in Pakistan.

Speaking at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Friday, South Asian Partnership, Pakistan Regional Programme coordinator Fida Hussain said the country’s constitution guaranteed equal rights to minorities, but the successive governments had failed to fulfill their obligation in this regard.

“It is basic right of non-Muslims to freely perform religious obligations and avail all rights as per the constitution of Pakistan,” he said and added that in the prevailing situation the minorities were denied their rights.

He asked the government to take practical steps to ensure all constitutional rights of non-Muslims and to provide them with equal opportunities so they could play effective role in the country’s development.

He said weak implementation of relevant laws was a great impediment in ensuring rights to minorities.