LAHORE: In the light of the recent attacks on the religious minorities in Quetta, the Christian community has condemned the delay in the setting up of a commission following the Supreme Court directions it had issued years back.

The former Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani had in 2014 directed for the formation of national and provincial commissions for minorities’ rights.

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has urged the Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony and the federal ministries for human rights and law and justice to expedite the setting up of this long-awaited national commission for minorities rights.

It has issued letters to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and requested it to avoid the use of negative and divisive characterisation of the religious communities such as a ‘non-Muslim,’ ‘non-Christian’ etc.

“Each person and community is entitled to be recognised by faith of their choice and not by portrayal of what they are not or how they should be seen by others. The vocabulary used in the national documents should, in particular, discourage ‘otherisation’ or estrangement among the citizens of Pakistan,” said CSJ Executive Director Peter Jacob.

He added that an institutional arrangement had now become crucial for the protection of the rights of the minorities.

“It has been nearly four years since the Supreme Court passed orders and over two years since the Action Plan for Human Rights that promised constituting a National Commission for Minorities’ Rights. But the federal government

has failed to introduce any legislation for the purpose in the parliament.”

The letter demanded that the proposed commission must have a complete mandate to monitor policies, protect and promote the rights of minorities as well as give advice on policy matters in order to comply with court’s orders issued on June 19, 2014.

It added that the proposed commission should have powers like the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) to investigate and provide remedies in accordance with UN Paris Principles and independent of any political influence. Meanwhile, the National Commission of Justice and Peace strongly condemned the targetted killing of the Christians in Quetta. In a joint statement, Archbishop and NCJP Chairperson Dr Joseph Arshad, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Yousaf, national director, and Cecil Shane Chaudhry, executive director, stated that it was the responsibility of the state to provide protection and security to its citizens.

Mr Cecil said the Christians were one of the most peaceful communities in Pakistan and they had been under attack without posing any threat.

He demanded the government immediately take notice of the dangerous trend emerging and properly inquire all these incidents and formulate an independent inquiry commission.

Dr Joseph Arshad also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives and prayed for the souls of the deceased, the injured and their families.

Published in Dawn, Aprill 17th, 2018