President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday assented to three bills on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, including legislation to establish a statutory body for the protection and promotion of minorities rights in Pakistan. The approval was confirmed in a statement issued by the Presidency.
Read More: Parliament approves law for protection of minority rights
The bills signed into law include the Qanun-e-Shahadat (Amendment) Bill 2025, the King Hamad University of Nursing and Associated Medical Sciences Bill 2025, and the National Commission for Minorities Rights Bill 2025. The president, however, returned the Daanish Schools Authority Bill 2025 to the prime minister.
Pakistan has approved a National Commission for Minorities Rights, but stripped its power to summon officials or investigate abuses on its own, prompting mixed reactions from church and rights leaders.#Pakistan #MinorityRights #ReligiousFreedom
🔗 https://t.co/Bsnh4O76RB pic.twitter.com/0dJ8zK5trc— Christian Daily International (@ChDaily_News) December 13, 2025
صدر مملکت نے اہم قانون سازی کی منظوری دے دی
صدر مملکت آصف علی زرداری نے پارلیمنٹ کے دونوں ایوانوں سے منظوری کے بعد وزیراعظم شہباز شریف کی ایڈوائس پر قانون شہادت ترمیمی بل 2025 پر دستخط کیے۔ انہوں نے قومی کمیشن برائے اقلیتی حقوق بل 2025 کی بھی منظوری دی۔#legislation #minorities pic.twitter.com/FF7qUOUrd9
— dostifm98 (@DostiFM98) December 17, 2025
According to the statement, the bill was sent back due to the need for consultation with provincial governments. President Zardari said prior coordination was essential in matters relating to the establishment of Daanish schools in the provinces.
The National Commission for Minorities Rights Bill 2025 was passed earlier this month during a joint session of Parliament. The legislation faced strong opposition from both treasury and opposition benches.
Read More: Parliament passes minority rights bill amid chaos
Concerns were raised that a clause giving the law overriding effect could impact the anti-Ahmadiyya ordinance introduced in 1984. During the joint sitting, 160 members voted in favour of the bill while 79 opposed it.
The bill was ultimately passed with amendments, including the removal of the overriding clause and the withdrawal of proposed suo motu powers for the commission. These changes were introduced to address objections raised by lawmakers.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar clarified during the debate that the legislation would not dilute existing laws or affect court judgements. He said the bill was in line with the Constitution and Islamic principles.
He added that minorities, defined as non-Muslims under the Constitution, deserved institutional protection. The minister recalled that a 2014 Supreme Court judgement had called for the creation of such a commission.
Read More: Senate approves bill for minority rights commission
Tarar said the proposed body would not have punitive authority but would forward recommendations to the government. He stressed that minority communities needed a forum to address issues such as forced conversions, job quotas and dignity-related concerns.