ISLAMABAD – Despite its tall claims, the Minority Affairs Ministry failed to accomplish the projects it announced for the welfare of minorities. A ministry official, who requested anonymity, told the Pakistan Today on Sunday that the ministry had announced to draft the ‘Minorities Protection Bill’ to protect the minorities and legislate on Hindu, Sikh and Baha’i Marriage Act but so far no progress was made on the matter.
“The ministry’s plan to launch an awareness campaign on minorities’ rights by holding workshops, seminars and different activities was not launched as publicised and its pledge to establish ‘Skill Development Centers’ for minorities had too hit a snag,” he added. The official said that to promote national unity and harmony in the society, the ministry had also announced to constitute Interfaith Harmony Committees at the district levels but no such committee was functional in the country.
The ministry also not executed its plan of establishing a round the clock hotline for the timely redresses of minorities’ grievances, he said. The ministry did not frame a bill in last three years to review discriminatory laws against the minorities and could not complete the 220 small development schemes, approved for the maintenance of minorities’ sacred places.
However, the ministry succeeded in getting 5% quota for Minorities in all the federal government jobs, apart from their open merit selection, he added. Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti said that the ministry would table ‘Minorities Protection Bill’ in the Parliament in March and the hotline would start working in February, adding that ministry was doing its best to complete its all minorities’ welfare projects.
