Civil Society Disapproves Of Minorities Commission Bill, Demands Amendments

News Desk

Islamabad: The National Commission for Minorities Bill manifests gaps that need to be addressed to make the prospective minority rights body truly functional, effective, independent, autonomous and resourceful, stated Joint Action Committee for Peoples Rights (JAC).

The JAC is disappointed on the passing of National Commission for Minorities Bill, 2023 from the National Assembly which is inconsistent with UN Paris Principles and the directives of the Supreme Court of June 19, 2014 (SMC No. 1 of 2014). It further implored the government to enact a permanent National Commission for Minorities Rights (NCMR) to fulfil its promise.

The Supreme Court in 2014 directed the government to establish a minority rights institution with a mandate “to monitor the practical realization of the rights and safeguards provided to minorities under the Constitution and law and frame policy recommendations for safeguarding and protecting minorities’ rights”. The JAC demanded that the Minorities Bill must include the word ‘rights’ in the title of the bill and the institution must be called the NCMR to make the perspective clear.

It demanded that the membership and composition of the commission should enable respect and realization of human rights. The representation of smaller religious communities should be included to ensure reflection of the religious diversity in the composition of the minorities commission.

Four Hindus, two each from the upper castes and scheduled castes, and four Christians, one each from the provinces, should be included to serve as members to incorporate provincial representation.

The representation of Christians on the basis of denominations and Hindus on the basis of caste identity cannot be a qualification; therefore, the appointments should be made on merit, considering the Minority Commission is a human rights institution, not a religious body.

The representation of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) and Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) proposed in the bill should be dropped to constitute an independent minorities commission parallel to other national human rights institutions.

Furthermore, the minority commission should have one representative each from the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), and the National Commission on the Rights of Children (NCRC). The JAC recommended to make one-third female participation mandatory amongst the non-official representation as well as the official representation.

Moreover, one representative of the Ministry of Finance should be included so that the ministry is aware of the developments and financial needs of the Minorities Commission. The Minorities Commission should be able to use the one-liner allocated budget necessary to ensure financial autonomy.

In addition, the government’s commitment to supporting National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) should be reflected in the federal annual budget by allotting the budget for their functioning.