LAHORE, Jan 21: The Caritas Pakistan national director, Bishop Joseph Coutts, has welcomed the restoration of the joint electorate system and said it amounted to recognition of minorities as equal citizens of the country.

In a statement here, the Caritas Pakistan director, who is also holding the office of the Bishop of Faisalabad, applauded the individuals and groups working towards the eradication of laws which ‘deemed to violate human and religious rights’. Their patience and silent pressure had yielded fruitful results, he said.

He expressed delight over the recognition of each citizen of the country as ‘Pakistani first and foremost, rather than Muslim, Christian, Hindu or anything else’. — Reporter