Amid ruckus & walkouts: Minorities bill sails through joint sitting of parliament
ISLAMABAD: Amid intense opposition protests and a walkout by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, the long-awaited National Commission for Minorities Rights Bill, 2025, aimed at safeguarding non-Muslim rights, sailed through the joint sitting of Parliament on Tuesday.
Tensions soared in the House as Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar moved the bill, sparking a fierce protest from opposition members who chanted slogans and called for more scrutiny, but despite the uproar, the NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq pushed for a headcount vote, which saw 160 votes in favor and 79 against.
Notably, while most opposition lawmakers stormed out of the House, members of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) remained seated, as the walkout was led by PTI lawmakers, who accused the ruling PML-N of bulldozing key legislation without consulting the opposition.
As the vote unfolded, Minister Tarar reassured lawmakers that the bill was crafted with non-Muslim citizens’ rights in mind, particularly in line with the Supreme Court’s 2014 directive.
“This commission is meant to provide a formal platform for non-Muslims to air grievances,” he said, underlining that the bill contains nothing contrary to Islamic teachings.
He emphasized that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had set a precedent in protecting non-Muslim communities, an argument designed to placate religious sensitivities surrounding the bill.
Despite these assurances, religiously charged objections dominated the debate. Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the JUI-F chief, expressed reservations about the bill’s potential for misuse, particularly by the Qadiani (Ahmadi) community.
“The Qadianis have a history of exploiting such legislation,” he warned, invoking fears of divisiveness. “This is a Pandora’s box we should not open,” he said, raising concerns about how the law could be exploited for political gain.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan of PTI also echoed concerns, stressing that while protecting minorities is essential, the bill should not compromise Islamic values. “We cannot pass any law that is contrary to Islam,” Khan declared, demanding a more thorough debate on the bill.
The government sought to quell rising tensions by accepting several amendments proposed by the opposition. These included the removal of Clause 35, which was viewed as problematic by some religious quarters.
Tarar explained that the government was adhering to the constitutional definition of non-Muslims, specifically addressing concerns surrounding the status of Ahmadis.
Furthermore, additional amendments were introduced, including changes to Clause 4, which outlines the appointment process for the Commission’s chairperson, and Clause 10, which adds safeguards against corruption and misuse of authority. These changes were presented as a gesture to ensure broader political support for the bill.
While JUI-F voiced its concerns primarily around issues of religious definitions and potential misuse, other religious representatives in the House also weighed in.
Senator Noorul Haq Qadri of PTI, while expressing no objections to the rights of Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians, emphasized concerns over how the bill could be used to benefit Ahmadis, a point echoed by other lawmakers.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar urged the opposition to refrain from politicizing such sensitive issues. He underscored that the government had already accepted amendments to improve the bill and invited opposition members to collaborate on further refinement.
Under the new law, the proposed National Commission for Minorities Rights will comprise 16 members, including two representatives from each province, one from Islamabad, and three from national human rights bodies.
The commission is designed to be a high-level, independent body aimed at ensuring the continuous protection and promotion of minority rights as guaranteed by Pakistan’s constitution.
The commission will be empowered to address grievances from non-Muslims, monitor the implementation of religious freedom laws, and work with the Ministry of Religious Affairs to ensure that minority communities are protected. Members and the chairperson will be at least 35 years old, with the chairperson required to have expertise in human rights.
In addition to the commission, an 18-member Minority Council will be formed to give voice to a broader range of minority communities, including Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, and Parsis. The council will be appointed for three-year terms by the Prime Minister.
The joint sitting also saw the passage of several bills which include the National Assembly Secretariat Employees (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (Implemen-tation) Bill, 2024, the Pakistan Institute of Management Sciences and Technology Bill, 2023, the National University for Security Sciences, Islamabad Bill, 2023, the Akhuwat Institute Kasur Bill, 2023 and the Ghurki Institute of Science and Technology Bill, 2025.
However, the debate over minority rights overshadowed the passing of these legislative measures, drawing intense scrutiny from both political and religious factions.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025