Sir: This is with reference to President Arif Alvi’s address to the National Interfaith Peace Conference in Lahore on April 25, 2019. Repeating the typical statement like previous rulers the President said all the minorities were enjoying equal rights in Pakistan as per the constitution. He said the PTI government was fully committed to promoting inter-faith harmony and communal brotherhood in the country.
Can I ask the worthy President that what sort of equality is this? During 2018 election campaign your party leader and now Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr Imran Khan claimed to give VIP status to the Minorities, but after coming into power for more than eight months the worthy Prime Minister is reluctant to induct even his handpicked minority representative in Federal Cabinet. His party’s Member National Assembly on reserved seat for the Minorities, Ms Shanila Ruth who first time became PTI’s MPA in Punjab Assembly on reserved seat.
As a matter of fact said lady arranged this National Interfaith Peace Conference in continuation of her efforts to get his share in Federal Cabinet as a minority representative of PTI. She is trying her level best to become Federal Minister by arranging such meetings and in this regard she has already arranged meeting of Bishops with PM Imran Khan in October 2018 as well as with President of Pakistan in March 2018.
Now the minorities want some serious attitude and concrete steps in shape of legislation from the present rulers towards their manifold problems instead of typical statement of equal rights to the Minorities.
EMMANUEL YOUSAF
Lahore