President Asif Ali Zardari said on Thursday that the government was committed to protecting rights of minorities and the nation should reaffirm its commitment to work for the promotion of interfaith harmony.
Addressing participants of the Minorities Day function held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday, Zardari said August 11 was an occasion when people should recognise the important role played by minorities in nation building and should honour their sacrifices. The function was attended by Advisor to Prime Minister (PM) Paul Bhatti, State Minister Akram Gill and PPP Minorities leader Nepolean Qayyum.
Zardari said Islam emphasised on equal and just treatment with minorities, adding that the Constitution of Pakistan and the UN Declaration of Human Rights also protected the rights of the minorities. The president said recognition and respect of minorities’ rights was part of PPP’s agenda. Referring to Jinnah’s August 11 speech, Zardari said Jinnah had laid the foundations of a modern, tolerant and progressive state, adding that the country’s founder believed in freedom for all.
The president expressed hope that the provincial govts would continue to ensure equality, freedom and security for all communities and would allow them to freely practice their religion. The president said his govt had taken a number of initiatives such as reservation of a five percent in government jobs and four seats in the Senate for minorities. Zardari also paid glowing tributes to former Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs late Shahbaz Bhatti, who was assassinated in March 2011.
He said Bhatti was an active member of the PPP who had struggled for years under the dynamic leadership of Benazir Bhutto. The president also inaugurated the Shahbaz Bhatti Memorial Trust, established to help economic empowerment and social uplift of minorities.
