MANGLA: President Ayub Khan today [Dec 12] assured the minority communities of the country that the Pakistan Government and people would continue to provide every possible protection to them. He said that members of the minority communities are dear to us and enjoy the same rights and privileges as other citizens of the country.

The President was addressing a public meeting here today, which was attended among others by a large number of people from minority communities. He was garlanded by a leader of a minority community on arrival at the meeting ground.

The President said that the Pakistan Government was pledged to provide protection to the minorities and to allow them to flourish and prosper as honourable citizens of the country. He was glad to know that the minorities were also progressing.

Addressing the minority communities’ people, the President reiterated: “You are loyal citizens. You have the same rights and privileges as others and have every right to lead a peaceful and progressive life in the country.”

The President pointed out that while in Pakistan the minorities were living a peaceful life in India the Muslim community, which was so small being 10 per cent of the total population of that country, was suffering perpetual persecution.

Indian Muslims, he added, were subjected to all kinds of persecution and untold sufferings. Communal riots in that country are the order of the day, he said.— Agency

[Meanwhile, as reported by our correspondent in Washington,] the First or Political and Security Committee of the General Assembly will take up the item concerning the proposed conference of non-nuclear weapon States on Friday [Dec 15].

This was decided yesterday at the request of Pakistan and Malaysia. Pakistan is the sponsor of the idea of the non-nuclear Powers conference.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2017