ISLAMABAD: The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) has welcomed Supreme Court’s direction to the federal and provincial governments to ensure the employment quota of minorities is maintained at all levels.

Referring to a fact-finding report, “Unequal citizens, ending systemic discrimination against minorities” published in May 2022 by the NCHR, the court ordered the respective governments to strictly avoid discriminatory and demeaning advertisements hurting dignity and self-respect of minorities.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, the commission said the decision would ensure the protection of minority and disability rights in the country.

The commission said the detailed judgment authored by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah was announced in response to a petition filed in the court challenging seats reserved for minorities and persons with disabilities in government employment.

The petitioner had challenged the legality of the allocation and reservation of seats for persons with disabilities and minorities and prayed to the court that if the quota remained unfulfilled in a particular year, these special seats be made available for other deserving candidates applying against general quota.

The court dismissed the petition and ruled that in order to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities and to provide equality of status and opportunities, the state had to endeavour to bridge the gap. The state ensured that they enjoyed their fundamental rights under the constitution as enjoyed by the Muslim majority and majority of persons with fuller abilities.

“Therefore, other than the general seats, the additional provision of quota for persons with disabilities and minorities reaffirms the constitutional commitment,” the statement said.

The court directed the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) to ensure that the word “disabled” was not used and instead ‘persons with disabilities’ or ‘persons with different abilities’ was put to use. It ordered that a copy of directives shall be dispatched to the chief secretary of Punjab as well as the chief secretaries of other provinces to ensure that the order was complied with in letter and spirit.

Published in Dawn, January 23th, 2023