ISLAMABAD: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) through a letter to Prime Minster Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has requested him to intervene to help protect minorities’ rights, including enhancing adequate security arrangements at their worship places. Importantly, the human rights watch dog also requested the prime minster to implement the Supreme Court judgement passed in June 2104 regarding minorities’ rights. Aftermath of a bomb blast at Peshawar church in 2014 that had resulted in over 80 deaths and many injured, the SC had issued a 32-page judgement, which directed the federal government to constitute a national council for minorities’ rights. The function of the council, the court said, would to monitor the practical recognition of the rights and safeguards provided to the minorities under the constitution and law. Establishment of a special police force with professional training to protect the places of worship of minorities was also part of the judgement. Besides, development of appropriate curriculum at school and college level to promote religious tolerance in the country is also included in the judgement. However, legal experts are of the view that despite passage of over four years, the judgement could not be implemented in true letter and spirit. They quoted an example of the recent terrorist attack on a church in Quetta, which claimed over 10 lives. Keeping in view the said facts, the HRCP recommended the PM to make implementation of the general criminal law more effective, including appropriate training and sensitization of police, investigation, prosecution and judicial officers in order. It also requested the premier to increase efforts through broad-based consultations with all stakeholders to remove hate material from textbooks. “Make the curriculum more inclusive by appropriate mention and awareness about the significant contribution that Pakistan’s non-Muslim citizens have made to the country.” The HRCP further recommended for taking appropriate steps to ensure that hate material in social media be discouraged and the delinquents are brought to justice under the law. Moreover, creation of comprehensive database of places of religious significance across the country in order to protect them from encroachment and attacks and also pay careful attention as such a database might add to the vulnerability of such sites, were also demanded by the commission. “Sensitize members of the religious minority communities to be alert to threats and train them on documenting and sharing with authorities all relevant details of any incidents of concern.” Besides, it also asked for redesign the management strategy of places of religious significance of religious, minorities under the Evacuee Trust Property Board, which has invited considerable, reservations from the communities in question. “In order to protect all citizens’ religious freedoms, the community to which a place of religious significance belongs should have a say in how it is managed.” “Local peace committees at the district or municipal level must educate the community that Islam does not allow demolition or desecration of places of religious significance. The relevant department must regularly assess the performance of official watchdogs tasked with preventing spread of hatred through the media to ensure that the intention of the law is being implemented,” added HRCP. Published in Daily Times, December 30th 2017.