KARACHI, March 15: Representatives from the minority communities spoke their hearts out and voiced their grievances and the various forms of discrimination they have been subjected to over the years. They demanded the elimination of discriminatory laws, immediate action against forced conversions, kidnappings for ransom. They also demanded increased representation on the Evacuee Property Trust Board and return of their properties which they said were illegal government occupation.

The grievances were aired in a discussion programme, Protection of Minorities in Pakistan: issues, challenges and way forward. The programme was organised by Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights, Pakistan

Mentioning some of the discriminatory articles in the Constitution, the participants said that the office of the President should be open for non-Muslims too and there should be no state religion if minorities were considered equal citizens of the country. It was pointed out that the powers given to the Federal Shariat Court overruled the authority of the parliament as it can declare any law passed by the National Assembly as ‘un-Islamic’.

The participants demanded that their seats in assemblies be increased, four minority members from each province be given representation in the Senate and they be given proportional representation in all service cadres. Many participants also raised voice over the dilapidated state of their religious places and against the conversion of their properties into recreational spots and government buildings.

A representative of the Sikh community, Sardar Ramesh Singh, said that they were deprived of their historical Ratan Talao Gurdwara located in the jurisdiction of Preedy police station. The gurdwara had been turned into a college and now Sikh community was left with only one place of worship.

Adviser to Chief Minister Sindh on Minorities, Kishen Chand Parvani, the chief guest, said though the government had done good by abolishing separate electorate system and introducing people of minority groups into the armed forces, there were host of issues, for instance discriminatory laws, forced conversion and kidnapping for ransom, which had been ignored for long.

He called for a unity among the minorities and urged political parties to make their issues as part of their manifestos.