LAHORE: Federal Minister for Human Rights Senator Kamran Michael has said that the government would table a bill in the National Assembly for legislation on the Minority Act for protecting the rights of the minorities in Pakistan.
Talking to the journalists after inaugurating the Complaint Cell at the regional Directorate of Human Rights here on Thursday, he said that there was no law for the protection of the minorities at present. He added that the Minority Act would help protect rights of the minorities in the country as per the constitution of the country.
To a query, the minister said that the Christian Marriage Act and the Christian Divorce Act would also be discussed in the house for amendments. He said that he had called a meeting of the bishops and pastors for consultations in this regard. About the violations of human rights, Michael said that the perpetrators of honor killings are punished under the murder laws, adding that the law department is working on an amendment under which no one could get relief through compromise.
Answering another query, he said that the human rights department has set up a toll-free helpline 1099 and three law officers are positioned to provide assistance on the complaints from the victims. He added that the ministry would also provide legal help to the victims in future. The complainants could lodge their complaints against violation of human rights at the regional directorate, he said. The government has fulfilled its commitment of establishing a re-dressal system across the country.
To a question, he said that the ministry of human rights would stand against the victims, adding that in a recent case of violation against a minority member in Kasur, the ministry had provided full legal assistance to the victims against the bigwigs of the area. He also said that an awareness campaign would be launched through the media so that everybody should have a clear vision of the human rights.
The minister further said that the government would soon constitute district human rights committees to be headed by parliamentarians with 20-22 members, including senior police and district administration officers, women, youth, media-men, lawyers and minority representatives.
He also said that the human rights ministry is planning to propose celebration of Annual Neighbours Day nationwide which would help in the eradication of intolerance and extremism from the country. He added that the world may also take a lead from the day once it is observed in Pakistan.
The minister said that he would call upon the lawyers, who are defenders of human rights, and the media men to play their due role presenting a soft image of the country to the world by successfully protecting human rights and safeguarding people against exploitation and victimization.
Earlier, Michael had inaugurated a complaint cell at the regional directorate of human rights at 148-A New Muslim Town. He was accompanied by Federal Secretary Human Rights Nadeem Ashraf and Regional Director Human Rights Lubna Masood.