Responsive Policing To Ensure Constitutional Rights Of Minorities

News Desk

Islamabad: The police must protect the constitutional rights of minorities enshrined in Article 25 of the Constitution since they form an integral part of Pakistan’s diverse society and have immensely contributed to the social and economic development of Pakistan, said One-Man Commission on Minority Rights Chairman Dr Shoaib Suddle.

Speaking on the occasion of National Minorities Day, organised by the National Police Bureau (NPB) Islamabad, Dr Futher stressed that policing can be further made responsive to the issues of religious minorities.

Chairman informed participants that the Commission has so far made progress in the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment of June 19 on minority rights in terms of the recovery of communal property, the removal of hate material from textbooks and the implementation of a five percent minority job quota.

NPB Director General Dr Ehsan Sadiq said that the criminal justice system in Pakistan should be responsive and play a very instrumental role in protecting the rights of minorities. While doing policing on issues affecting minorities, the officers must consider other social facts that enhance the marginalization of minorities, he added.

Dr Sadiq further stated that the learnings at the top cadre level shall translate to junior officers’ adoption of citizen-centric and victim-centred approaches.

Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas discussed that community policing, if adopted, can help address various issues and challenges in the protection of the rights of religious minorities.

Center for Law & Justice Executive Director Marry James Gill further added that state institutions should empathetically and institutionally respond to the problems of minority communities and neighbourhoods, keeping in mind that they are marginalized and hardened policing may enhance that.