Minority Groups Call for End to Discrimination in Pakistan

Representatives of minority religious communities have used National Minorities Day, held on Tuesday, 11th August, to seek an end to discrimination against them on the basis of their religious beliefs.

Talking to The Express Tribune, they called for the repeal of laws discriminating against minority communities, and demanded that all citizens be considered equal, without regard to their religious beliefs. They also urged the federal government to ensure security of life and property of minority communities, in accordance with a Supreme Court judgement of June 2014.

Advocate Nadeem Anthony said that nationality should be the only marker of identity for all citizens of the country, and lamented the fact that people belonging to minority communities were identified, first and foremost, as members of a particular religious community.

“We are responsible citizens and are playing our role for the development of this country. The society is still unwilling to consider us equal citizens,” he said.

Anthony also criticised the format of general elections in the country, stating that it had not allowed the minority communities to elect their own representatives.

In 2009, the federal government had designated August 11 as National Minorities Day, and it has been observed every year since then.

• Pray for Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan, for protection and recognition of their rights as citizens of this majority Muslim country.
• Pray for advocates of minority groups to be heard by the government, and for fair and just laws for all.
• Pray for Pakistan, for the spread of the Gospel and for many to come to know the truth of Christ in this country.

Proverbs 31 vs 9: “Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Source: http://tribune.com.pk/story, http://www.persecution.org