ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Hindu Council has shown its reservations for not including minority lawmakers in Parliamentary Action Committee.

The council termed it an attempt to keep minorities away from decision-making process.

After the Peshawar incident Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif constituted a committee headed by Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan to give proposals for dealing with terrorism.

The committee submitted its recommendations on Wednesday.

President of Pakistan Hindu Council, Chela Ram Kewlani in a statement said the government decision not to get input from minorities will make the counter terrorism campaign more difficult.

“A large number of Hindus and other minorities are being targeted in the ongoing terror activities across the country, but it is shocking that there is not even a single minority member who can represent the community in the committee,” he said.

He said that in the context of current situation ignoring the minorities would make it harder to defeat the terrorism. Pakistan Hindu Council considers the attacks against minorities, forced conversions and marriages as dangerous internal security threats.

Chela Ram also noted with regret that in the electoral reforms committee, Evacuee Property Trust Board and other matters related to minorities, the community representatives were not included which, according to him, was not a good sign.

While talking to Dawn he said minorities were shocked and pained by the Peshawar incident.

“We held protests all over the country but it is unfortunate that no one gives importance to the minorities. Even government is not willing to give rights to minorities,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2014