PESHAWAR: Speakers at a conference on the rights of minorities on Saturday said that non-Muslims should be given due representation in policy-making bodies to ensure protection of their rights and bring an end to discrimination, especially in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

The event was held at Peshawar Press Club where the speakers included Supreme Court lawyer Sher Mohammad Khan, Prof Dr Ijaz Khan, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan co-chairperson Kamran Arif, project coordinator AGHS – Legal Aid Cell Shanzay Tariq and Amina Ahsan.

The speakers demanded proper representation of minorities in the parliament and government rights-based bodies, and urged the authorities concerned to ensure taking concrete steps for protection of their lives, properties and religious places. They said that amendments should be made to the prevalent laws to ensure all basic rights to minorities like other citizens.

Sher Mohammad advocate said that it was the basic duty of the state to protect rights of all citizens irrespective of their beliefs.

About the negative impact of FCR on the lives of non-Muslims, he said that merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could help mitigate the miseries of minorities to a great extent.

Lawyer Kamran Arif referred to various conventions signed by Pakistan regarding rights of people and said that laws should be amended by keeping in view the prevailing requirements.

He said that it was the need of the hour to abolish FCR and extend jurisdiction of the apex courts to the tribal regions so that people could get justice.

He said that it was the government’s responsibility to ensure protection of minorities’ community. He stressed the need for bringing amendments in the existing laws to ensure all basic rights to minority community in the country.

Prof Ejaz said that the government was bound to give all basic rights to the people from different faiths.

Shanzay Tariq referred to a research study conducted by her organisation, saying that both the provincial and federal governments had failed to provide due rights to non-Muslims in Fata and KP. The study, she said, suggested revision of the relevant laws to stop discrimination.

She suggested that a law should be enacted to criminalise incitement to violence on the basis of religion. She proposed that the Evacuee Trust Properties (Management and Disposal) Act 1975 should be repealed by handing over the properties to the recognised religious and community-based institutions/organizations of the relevant minorities.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2017