Karachi, 11-08-2023: The city witnessed a historic event as the inaugural Minority Rights March took place at Frere Hall on National Minority Day. A collaborative effort, the march was spearheaded by a diverse group of political, religious, social, non-profit, and governmental entities.
Safina Javed, a prominent Women's Rights Activist and key organizer, remarked, "Our unity and shared purpose have driven us to launch the first Minority Rights March. Daily, those outside the religious majority in Pakistan face persecution. The rising tide of discrimination and violence, particularly against the Christian and Hindu communities, is alarming." She emphasized the critical need for reserved positions for non-Muslims in law enforcement and lamented the existing pro-minority laws in Sindh that remain largely theoretical.
The event saw participation from a spectrum of society, including politicians, lawyers, and human rights advocates. Among the attendees was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Junior, the sole heir of the late PPP leader Murtaza Bhutto. He championed Pakistan's diverse religious and ethnic tapestry, attributing the nation's achievements to the invaluable contributions of its religious minorities.
Marchers, donning traditional saaris and vibrant turbans, voiced their dissent against systemic bias. Tehrik-e-Niswan, a cultural action group, showcased a poignant drama highlighting the challenges faced by Pakistan's minority communities. Zoha Alvi, a researcher and organizer, emphasized the importance of representation for minority women in legislative bodies. Ramesh Singh, Patron-In-Chief of the Pakistan Sikh Council, voiced concerns over the lack of representation for the Sikh and Parsi communities in elected forums.
Warris Choudhry spotlighted the challenges faced by sanitary workers, many of whom hail from minority communities.
The march culminated with a comprehensive list of demands presented to the government:
- End Religiously Motivated Crimes: All political parties must
unanimously pass legislation to curb forced conversions and penalize
faith-related crimes. Consultation with women leaders from minority
communities is essential when formulating laws pertaining to minorities.
- Protection of Worship Places: Establish minority
protection cells and deploy specific policing forces in major towns.
Create a centralized digital data system to safeguard communal properties.
- Address Blasphemy Law Misuse: Develop efficient systems
to alert authorities of blasphemy allegations, protecting at-risk
communities.
- Constitutional Amendments: Repeal all discriminatory
clauses in the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973. Ensure equal opportunities
for all citizens to obtain presidential and prime ministerial offices.
- Increase Reserved Seats: Ensure representation of
all communities, including scheduled castes, Sikh, and Parsi communities,
in all elected bodies.
- Job Quota Restructuring: Revise the job quota model
for minorities and introduce a special quota for minority women in law
enforcement and intelligence agencies.
- Educational Reforms: Eliminate hate speech and
discriminatory content from the curriculum. Implement the 11th August
speech of Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah at all educational levels.
- Uphold Supreme Court's Verdict: Implement the Supreme
Court's verdict on minorities, including the creation of a National
Commission for Minorities Rights.
- Protect Workers' Rights: Ensure non-discrimination
and protection of all workers from minority communities.
- Disaster Preparedness: Take strict action against
discrimination during humanitarian crises and ensure proper data on
minority communities.
- Preserve Communal Properties: Restore and renovate all
communal properties of minorities holding heritage status. Ensure
management by their founding organizations or trusts.
This momentous event stands as a testament to the resilience and unity of Pakistan's minority communities and their allies, all striving for a more inclusive and just nation.
