ISLAMABAD, April 14: Religious minorities have rejected the government’s decision to restore religion column in the passport and announced that they will launch a countrywide movement against it. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (Apma) Chairman Shahbaz Bhatti said the minorities would not accept this “unjust and undemocratic decision” and would raise the issue at all levels.

He said resolutions would be moved through like- minded members of the parliament in the national as well as all four provincial assemblies against the religion column. Moreover, he said, a letter writing campaign would be launched and democratic political parties and human rights organizations would also be contacted in this regard.

The Apma chief also distributed copies of an open letter written to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on the issue of religion column. The copies of this letter were also being sent to the heads of the political parties, he added.

In his letter, Mr Bhatti told the prime minister that the religious minorities were “deeply shocked and disappointed” by the decision of the cabinet to include religion column in the passport.

He said the earlier decision to remove this column was hailed by majority of the people. But, by reversing the decision at the behest of religious parties, the government has created a sense of despondency and insecurity among the public in general and the religious minorities in particular, he added.

Mr Bhatti writes, “a passport is not a certificate of religious belief and only certifies the nationality of the holder. Thus it is unfortunate that the cabinet has decided to restore religion column in the passport.