Lahore
According to the sources of Daily Notable, Aawaz II held a provincial consultation to promote the rights of religious minorities and interfaith harmony at a local hotel in Lahore on Friday.
The consultation was designed to create a more inclusive, equal and protected environment for religious minorities in Punjab so that all could contribute to making the society more prosperous and tolerant.
The consultation was attended by representatives of various government ministries and various civil society organizations, while the panelists included renowned academics, minority rights activists and the Director of the Department of Human Rights and Minority Affairs.
Director of Human Rights and Minority Affairs Muhammad Yousaf, while launching the consultation, emphasized the need for greater interaction and awareness campaigns to promote tolerance and cohesion in society.
He emphasized that according to the Constitution of Pakistan, all irrespective of religion are not only equal citizens of the state but are also entitled to equal protection of the law. He further explained the various schemes that his office is implementing to promote social cohesion and the betterment of religious minorities at all levels in Punjab.
Yousaf reiterated his ministry’s commitment to ensuring the rights of minorities at all levels in the province and called on civil society and Aawaz II to collaborate and further strengthen their ties with the government for the effective implementation of all its minority-specific policies and in disseminating information about their various programs in the province .
Prominent researcher, writer and Executive Director of Center for Social Justice Peter Jacob said on the occasion that the rights of minorities should not be considered or considered in isolation, rather it is an important issue that requires strong political will from the incumbent government and all major political parties.
He stressed that despite commitments, each government has backtracked on promises to address religious discrimination, intolerance and establish a national commission for minority rights. While sharing the experience of Aawaz II in the districts, he highlighted the problems of graveyard land and waxing conditions in temples owned and operated by the Evacuee Trust Property Board.
He recommended immediate setting up of National Commission for Minority Rights, restoration of cemetery land by local influentials, maintenance of temples by ETPB in line with the direction and spirit of the 2014 Supreme Court judgment.
Member of Provincial Forum Aawz II and Director of Center for Law and Justice Marry James Gill said on the occasion that despite some positive developments such as reservation of employment quotas and establishment of inter-faith harmony committees, minorities in general and minority girls in particular face harassment, intimidation and forced conversions.
Other speakers, including Nauman Suleman and Chaman Lal, demanded immediate approval of the Inter-Religious Harmony Policy in Punjab and raising the age of marriage to 18 to address the issue of forced marriage and conversion of girls from religious minorities.
The Aawaz II program works with local communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to advance the rights of children, women, youth and other vulnerable groups to work towards a more inclusive, tolerant and peaceful Pakistan. Aawaz-II is a program run by the British Council with support from UK Aid. – PUNA
Comments 1