HYDERABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has planned to hold a minorities conference in the city in the second week of December. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is likely to preside over the event.

This was announced by Sindh PML-N senior vice president Syed Shah Mohammed Shah at a press conference, held in the local press club on Sunday, after attending a meeting of the party’s minorities wing in a hotel.

Mr Shah said that the aim of holding the conference was to discuss ways to promote religious harmony and remove the sense of insecurity among the minority communities people in view of the rising religious extremism and violations of human rights in the country.

He noted that the Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Parsi and other minority communities had been living in the country with complete harmony for decades but the rising religious extremism, fanaticism and intolerance over the past few years had been posing a serious threat to the harmonious relationship between them and the Muslim community.

The PML-N leader attributed the trend to the policies pursued by military dictators in the past, arguing that numerous groups of extremists were born during their rule over the country and fomented religious and sectarian hatred.

He urged the Sindh government to look into the issues being faced by the minorities on a top priority basis and ensure protection to the life, property and honour of every citizen in Sindh.

In reply to a question about drought in Tharparkar, Mr Shah said that the prime minister had provided a Rs1 billion package for the affected families of the region when a similar situation prevailed there in the recent past but the Sindh unfortunately failed to spend the aid on Tharis, who were still without drinking water and health facilities. He said the chief minister should play a proactive role in mitigating the sufferings of the drought-hit families.

He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would pay a visit to Tharparkar soon and several PML-N leaders along with Baitul Mal officials were proceeding to the region to assess the affected people’s requirements and recommend emergency aid.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2014