LAHORE: A report titled ‘When Compliance Fails Justice’, a research and analysis on the issues of implementation of court verdicts, by Peter Jacob and Farzana Christopher, was launched on Wednesday.

At the ceremony, Bishop John Alexander Malik praised retired Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jilani, calling him the upholder of minority rights for his landmark ruling two years ago, adding that unfortunately the directive had yet to be implemented.

He said that the biggest issue at the moment apart from security was loopholes in the Christian Marriage Act because of Nadra. He demanded that their marriages be registered like of Muslims with union councils.

Lawyer Asad Jamal shared the detail of the Justice Jilani ruling: a task force will be made to develop a strategy of religious tolerance; curriculum will be developed to promote religious harmony; elements involved in hate speech will be brought to justice; a National Council will be made to monitor realization of minorities’ rights and their safeguards; a police force will be established to protect the places of worship; enforcement of relativent policy directives regarding reservation of quota for minorities in all services will be ensure; and LEAs will take a prompt take action against violation of any of the rights guaranteed under the law or descecration of the places of worship. According to retired Justice Nasira Javed Iqbal, hate speech had been under controlafter the incident at Kot Radha Kishan where a Christian couple was burnt to death.

Curriculum too had bee changed, she said.Peter Jacob said the court had to repeatedly give further directions for these to be implemented because no laws were drafted and brought to the cabinet for discussion. Salim Michael said that Hindus and Christians should not be associated with liquor because their religions did not allow it. He also said that the money coming from selling liqor was ‘black money’.

Published in Dawn December 1st, 2016