ISLAMABAD: Minorities were the most vulnerable segments of the society and face discrimination throughout their life, a report said on Monday.

The report was launched by the Institute of Development Research and Corresponding Capabilities (IDRAC) Executive Director Amjad Nazeer at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Nazeer said 80pc of the people belonging to various minority groups, never lodged a complaint about discrimination out of fear that they would be targeted.

The report titled ‘Education and Inequality: Discerning the Foundation of Citizenry’ is based on a survey of around 1,500 people who were asked to analyse the condition of minorities in Pakistan.

“Though it is generally believed that all people are offspring of Adam and Eve, practically minorities are not considered equal to Muslims,” Mr Nazeer said.

While narrating personal accounts of people from minority groups, he said they found just a few non-Muslim teachers and that too were allowed to teach only science subjects.

“During the survey 62pc students said they faced discrimination and 72pc parents said their children faced discrimination. It happened because people hesitate to share it,” he said.

Christian Study Centre (CSC) Executive Director Jennifer J. Jivan said the findings and cases presented in the report showed the level of fragmentation in the society which was fast spreading in Pakistan.

“There is a need to change the negative mindset of the society through effective reform measures at the basic education level. I urge the government to implement the international conventions and treaties, which Pakistan signed and ratified, regarding elimination of all kind of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief,” she said.

Renowned progressive writer, historian and poet Ahmed Saleem said that to ensure equal rights to every citizen and to end all forms of discrimination, the country needed drastic amendments in the Constitution.

SDPI Director Advocacy and Outreach Moazzam Shareef Bhatti, while moderating the seminar, said the report was a good contribution to literature and would help policy makers in making decision.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2019