Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Federal Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has said that the government is making great endeavors to protect minorities in the country irrespective of cast, creed and gender.
Talking to media, he said that minorities in Pakistan are free to exercise their religions without any fear.
He said several conferences had been held across the country to ensure their protection due to which a commission came into being which aimed at addressing the issue of minorities.
About Sikh and Hindu minorities’ visit to Pakistan to fulfil their religious rituals, he said there was a protocol of 1974 between Pakistan and India according to which the Sikh community is facilitated on their visit to Hassan Abdal and Nankana Sahib accordingly.
Replying about issuing edict against minorities by the religious leaders, he said the Qaumi Mushaikh Council consisted of 50 Ulema and it was formed to determine how to issue edicts, as there was a dire need of legislation over the issue. He said steps are being taken to avoid a myriad of edicts.
About moon sighting issue, he said his ministry was trying to bridge the gap between the Central Ruet-e-Hilal of Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman and Shahab-ud-Din Populzai of KP and they have agreed to start Ramzan at the same day across the country.
Talking about reforms in religious seminaries, he said the government was taking steps to bridge the gap between the modern institutions of education and religious seminaries.
Education of Quran is compulsory for modern educational institutions and it is hoped that the situation would improve in near future with equal curriculum, he added.