ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday announced to convene a meeting of legal experts to look into the concerns of minorities and also take up the issue with the Implementation Commission on 18th Amendment.
A delegation of parliamentarians belonging to all political parties led by Minister of State for Interfaith Harmony and Minorities Affairs Akram Masih Gill submitted a joint representation to the Prime Minister, requesting that the national character of minorities should be kept intact.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the contributions of the people belonging to the minorities' community for national progress and development. He said he considered the minorities as his own constituency and would ensure the protection of their rights.
Gilani said Pakistan had not only guaranteed rights of the minorities in the constitution but also gave them representation in the country's flag as its one-third white portion represents minorities of the nation.
He mentioned the Quaid's speech of August 11, 1947 that comprehensively characterized the role of minorities in the national affairs.
He added that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto always championed the cause of minorities and took effective measures to preserve the national character of minorities.
He said that his government had taken a number of measures to protect the rights of minorities.
The parliamentarians thanked the Prime Minister for his keen interest in the uplift schemes for the welfare of minorities.
They pointed out that as the Ministry of Minority Affairs did not fall in the concurrent list, therefore it might not be devolved to the provinces as it might harm the interests of minorities as well as national character.
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011
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