Zubair Qureshi
Chairman Minorities Alliance Pakistan Akmal Bhatti has asked the government to make effective legislation to control incidents against minorities.
While addressing the participants of “Jinnah Ka Pakistan Awami Rally’ marking the National Minorities Day, on Thursday, Bhatti said the political, social and economic exploitation of religious minorities was contrary to the thinking of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah who in his historic speech to the First Constituent Assembly of Pakistan had made it clear the new state of Pakistan would be home to followers of all religion including Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Hindus or any other faith
He said the incidents of kidnapping, sexual assault and forced religious conversion of minor girls from minority community were giving a bad name to Pakistan internationally and the only effective way to curb this trend is legislation.
Bhatti demanded to end the National Single Curriculum project of the previous government. It was a project that needs to be stopped as it promoted religious extremism and differences among the followers of different faiths, he said. “The current electoral system is unacceptable to us.
The mixed system of elections has introduced a culture of nepotism, bribery and flattery and closed the door to genuine representation of minorities.”
“Political parties have been appointing representatives in the assemblies on the basis of personal preferences. Constituencies should be made on these seats and they should be allowed to enjoy democracy, he said.
The participants of the rally on the occasion raised slogans such as Pakistan Zinda Baad and Make Pakistan according to the dream and vision of Quaid-e-Azam.
“We want transparent implementation of the job quota as we have serious reservations about the census data. The government should address our concerns and ensure a transparent census. Five percent educational quota should be given to encourage the minorities, he said.
Vice Chairman Shamoon Gul, Sardar Ram Singh, Anush Bhatti, Asif Jan, Sadaf Adnan, Khalid Raheel, Samuel Latif, Fayaz Bhatti and other minority colleagues also addressed the rally.
