Daily Times

Chairman National Minority Commission (NCM) Chela Ram Kewlani said minorities are enjoying equal rights in Pakistan as comparing to India where the lives of minorities have been made miserable by Modi’s government.

Addressing a news conference flanked by members of NCM and CII chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz on Wednesday in Islamabad, he said minority community members in Pakistan enjoys absolute autonomy.

A Hindu member of minority community has been made chairman of the NCM for the first time in 27 years of commission’s history whereas in India the minorities are badly treated.

He said Pakistani Hindus were reluctant to visit their holy places in India due to insecurity and inhuman treatment of Modi’s government.

Expressing dismay over the attitude of India with minorities, he condemned the murder of eleven Pakistani Hindus in India, saying Indian Prime Minister Narendera Modi’s policies proved to be disastrous.

He said the members of NCM visited across the country to have firsthand knowledge about the problems being faced by the minorities.

The NCM having representation from all segment of society, were playing vital role in strengthening minority rights in the country, he said adding that prime minister Imran Khan has assured resolving the chronic issues of minorities.

He said the National Minority Commission (NCM) was planning to brief international media about the facilities being provided to the minorities in the country.

Likewise, NCM would meet minority members next month for evolving consensus on NCM’s minority protection bill and forced conversion bill.

He said the government was taking concrete measures to check forced conversions.

Chela lauded the role of Parliament in impeding forced conversions, saying the forced conversion was the joint issue of provinces and federation.

NCM has finalized the draft NCM law for religious harmony and the bill has been sent to Ministry of Law and Justice for vetting.

Speaking on the occasion Parliamentary Secretary Ms Shunila Ruth said a draft law for preventing forced conversion would be finalized soon after evolving consensus with all stake holders.

The top most priority of incumbent government is to protect the rights of minorities. Five percent quota for minorities in government jobs were being ensured. Whereas seven percent quota for minorities in Ehsas Programm has been ensured.

Chairman Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Dr Qibla Ayaz said the workings and contributions of NCM should be highlighted.

Qibla Ayaz emphasized for greater interfaith harmony to foil the sordid designs of enemy against Pakistan. Minorities in Pakistan enjoy complete freedom as per the constitution of the country.

“We all should play our role in promoting harmony and cohesion among all segments of society. CII was also the member of NCM.”

Responding to a question, Qibla said the issue of construction of temple in Islamabad would be resolved after detailed study and discussion.

A day earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had said the government was seriously considering to take up with international human rights organizations the issue of mysterious murder of 11 Pakistani Hindu nationals in Jodhpur, India. Speaking at the floor of Senate, the Foreign Minister had said the issue would also be raised at all forums besides in parliament and through Pakistan’s key missions abroad.

Qureshi had informed the House that a writ petition in this regard had also been filed in the Islamabad High Court. He was responding to a calling attention notice by Jamaat-e-Islami’s Mushtaq Ahmed. He had said Pakistan had repeatedly demanded India to share the details of investigation into the incident that took place in September and also the copy of First Information Report (FIR) by the Jodhpur police. He had pointed out that there was no update regarding autopsy of the bodies as demanded by a member of the family. The Foreign Minister had said “according to our information, an attempt was made to use this family for spying as the narrative of secular India had been badly tarnished”.