QUETTA: Peter Charles Sahotra, the founding chairman of the Pakistan Minorities Movement, has said minority communities face insecurity and discrimination in Pakistan and called upon the government to ensure their rights provided in the Constitution.

While speaking at a seminar on National Minorities Day on Sunday, Mr Sahotara said minority communities have been an integral part of Pakistan since the struggle for independence was launched.

Till today minorities continue to play a positive role in the country’s development, he said, while recalling the remarkable achievements of individuals belonging from religious minority groups in the fields of defence, education, health and social services.

He pointed out that despite the guarantee of religious freedom in the Constitution, minorities in Pakistan continue to face insecurity and discrimination.

Bugti hails minority groups’ role in national development

He emphasised that the Constitution guarantees the right of every individual to practise their religion without discrimination and also offers protection to their properties.

Mr Sahotara sought state’s protection for minorities and their places of worship and properties.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has also declared that desecration of minority groups’ places of worship is a crime, Mr Sahotara added.

He appealed to religious scholars and media to raise awareness about minority rights and promote a culture of tolerance, brotherhood, and unity so that minorities can continue contributing to Pakistan’s development.

Welfare of minorities

In his message on the occasion, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti vowed to ensure the security of minorities and protect their rights.

The government declared August 11 as National Minorities Day in 2009. The date coincides with the historic speech delivered by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1947, where he promised to protect the rights and religious freedoms of minorities in the country.

The Balochistan CM emphasised that minorities from the province are represented in national and provincial assemblies.

“Effective representation of minorities in parliament, government institutions, and all walks of life reflects democratic values,” he added.

According to Mr Bugti, minority communities, who have been settled in Balochistan for centuries, play a significant role in national development.

Measures for the welfare of minorities are being taken in consultation with their representatives, the CM claimed.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2024