Lahore: The Centre for Social
Justice (CSJ) held its 7th annual convention in observance of National
Minorities’ Day, calling upon political parties to fulfil their promises
regarding minority rights as outlined in their manifestos. The convention saw a
diverse group of speakers, including Hina Jillani, Peter Jacob, Wajahat Masood,
Benazir Shah, and others. Representatives from various political parties,
including Barrister Aamir Hassan (PPP), Ishtiaq Gohar (PML-Q), and Azhar Iqbal
(JI), also presented their parties' stances on minority rights.
Peter Jacob, CSJ's executive
director, highlighted the significance of foundational documents like
Quaid-e-Azam’s speech of 11 August 1947, the fourteen Points of Jinnah (1929),
the Lahore Resolution (1940), and the Liaquat Nehru Pact (1950) in ensuring
equal rights and establishing a just system. He expressed concerns over the
recently passed National Commission for Minorities Bill, 2023, urging the
Senate to introduce necessary amendments to make the commission truly effective
and autonomous.
Hina Jillani emphasized the
need for the state and government to address issues faced by minorities. She
criticized policies that appease extremist forces and promote division based on
identity. The religious content in compulsory subjects, she argued, can be
hurtful to non-Muslim children and needs revision.
Wajahat Masood, Chairperson of CSJ, urged political parties to reflect on their actions, especially when
introducing laws under the influence of fundamentalist groups. He emphasized
the importance of Jinnah's vision of tolerance and equality.
Barrister Aamir Hassan of the
Pakistan Peoples Party highlighted the need to separate state affairs from
religious influence. He expressed concerns over the amendment to section 298-A,
fearing its misuse in blasphemy accusations.
Benazir Shah pointed out the
lack of understanding among political parties regarding human rights issues.
She criticized the inclusion of Islamic content in the single national
curriculum for subjects like English, Urdu, and Social Science, which should
not be taught to religious minorities.
Journalist and activist
Veengas shed light on the grim reality of forced conversions and child
marriages of minority girls. She emphasized the state's responsibility to
introduce preventive legislation against forced conversions.
Saqib Jillani urged both federal
and provincial governments to address challenges faced by minority communities,
such as forced conversion and freedom of belief. He also emphasized the
implementation of the Jilani judgment delivered by the Supreme Court of
Pakistan in 2014.
Dr. Yaqoob Khan Bangash
called for the introduction of laws and policies that promote positive change
in societal mindsets. Professor Sardar Kalyan Singh Kalyan stressed the
importance of an inclusive curriculum that promotes diversity and interaction
among students.
Suneel Malik presented the
findings of the "Promises to Keep & Miles to Go" report, urging
political parties to uphold their election manifesto commitments to improve
human rights and minority rights.
Azhar Iqbal of
Jamaat-e-Islami and Ishtiaq Gohar of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) both
emphasized the importance of protecting minority rights and fostering social
cohesion.
The convention concluded with
the screening of two documentary films: one highlighting the significance of
National Minorities Day and the other, "Humsaya" (Neighbour)", a
CSJ production that won the Best Short Documentary on Human Rights award at the
Venice Intercultural Film Festival in June 2023.
Resolution: The convention
participants unanimously called for the promotion of religious freedom,
tolerance, and equality of rights for all citizens. They urged the government
to take concrete steps to ensure the protection of minority rights, including
amending discriminatory provisions in the constitution, delivering on electoral
pledges, setting up empowered committees to oversee progress, introducing
educational reforms, and criminalizing forced faith conversions. The convention
was organized by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and attended by
representatives from civil society organizations and political parties.