CHAIRMAN of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reportedly issued instructions to his Party to make special arrangements so that after the 2018 general election there is ample representation of religious minorities in the National and Provincial Assemblies on behalf of the Party. The Party also has constituted a high-powered Committee with representation from Christians, Hindus and Sikhs to resolve their issues in Sindh province.
Indeed the PPP has always tried to prove true to its liberal and progressive face and this is the reason we often see the PPP Chairman or Co-chairman and other Party leaders attending and fully participating in the religious festivals of different faiths. At a time when we are talking about promoting greater harmony and solidarity in our ranks to confront the challenges facing the country, such a posture from our political leadership indeed is a step in the right direction to promote much needed interfaith harmony in our society. Therefore, the suggestion by Bilawal Bhutto to increase representation of minorities in Parliament is also welcomed and we expect that other political parties will also follow the suit and give more tickets to the minority candidates so that after their election, they could effectively highlight their problems in Parliament and get their problems addressed.
By doing so, we will also be fulfilling the commitment of founding father Quaid-i-Azam who on different occasions made it very clear that the minorities will enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other citizen of the country. If we also look towards the role played by minorities especially the Christians in the development of education sector, it is commendable and unmatchable and we understand if provided with right kind of opportunities, they can prove to be a real asset to take forward the country in different disciplines.
Though present government has done some good work including that of establishing a National Commission on Minorities and passing a Hindu Marriage Bill 2016 but still a lot more needs to be done to improve their lot and we expect that the Committee established by the PPP will also take immediate steps to address grievances of minorities regarding forced conversions in Sindh. We understand that by granting due rights to minorities, we will also be able to project a soft and positive image of the country in the comity of nations.
https://pakobserver.net/bilawal-minorities-mps/
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