Faisalabad [Pakistan], August 10 (ANI): Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), in partnership with the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD), marked National Minority Day on August 11 with a special event focused on the challenges facing religious minorities and the urgent need to strengthen human rights, democratic governance, religious freedom, and equal citizenship in Pakistan.
The event, organised under the theme ‘Human Rights & Democracy: Challenges and Recommendations,’ formed part of the 7th HRD Network Meeting convened through the HRFP-TFD activities, ‘Human Rights Documentation, Fact-Finding & Advocacy for the Marginalized-II.’
Held at Vision Hall in Faisalabad, the gathering brought together participants from different parts of Pakistan, both physically and through online participation. The event provided a platform for political workers, civil society representatives, human rights defenders, lawyers, educators, women, youth, and community leaders to discuss the continuing challenges experienced by religious minorities and to propose practical measures for ensuring equal rights and protection.
Participants stressed that meaningful cooperation between the institutions, stakeholders, civil society organisations, and communities is essential for advancing human rights, protecting minority communities, and strengthening democratic values.
The event prominently reflected on Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s August 11, 1947, address, a landmark speech that emphasised the principles of religious liberty, social equality, tolerance, and the equal rights of all citizens as fundamental to the future of Pakistan. HRFP recalled Jinnah’s words: “You are free; you are free to go to your temples; you are free to go to your mosques or any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste or creed–that has nothing to do with the business of the state.”
HRFP emphasised that the August 11 address remains a significant expression of the principles of religious liberty, equality, tolerance, and inclusive citizenship. However, participants expressed concern that these principles have yet to be fully turned into reality for all religious minorities across Pakistan.
HRFP urged policymakers and state institutions to ensure that the principles articulated by Jinnah are reflected not only in public statements but also in constitutional interpretation, legislation, government policies, and institutional practices. They stressed that every citizen must receive equal protection and equal treatment regardless of religion or belief.
Naveed Walter, President of Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), said National Minorities Day should reaffirm Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s August 11, 1947, vision of equality, religious freedom and equal citizenship for all Pakistanis. He expressed concern that Jinnah’s vision is sometimes used selectively for political purposes while minority rights remain insufficiently protected in practice, and condemned discrimination, violence, misuse of blasphemy laws, forced conversions, underage marriages, attacks on places of worship and the social, economic and political marginalisation of religious minorities.
Naveed Walter called for stronger protection of minority women and girls, due process in blasphemy cases, accountability for mob violence and discrimination, and a review of the reserved-seat system to ensure genuine and accountable minority representation rather than political benefaction. He urged effective implementation of constitutional protections, equal opportunities in education and employment, protection of religious sites and community property, greater political participation and stronger institutional mechanisms for minority rights, stressing that minorities are an integral part of Pakistan and that Jinnah’s vision must be implemented as a lived reality rather than remembered only through speeches and ceremonies.
Naveed Walter, President of Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), described Jinnah’s August 11 address as a landmark statement on religious freedom and political inclusion, while condemning discrimination, violence, persecution, and marginalisation of religious minorities in Pakistan. Citing a recent series of incidents, he highlighted serious failures in protection, accountability, and access to justice, warning that impunity and misuse of blasphemy laws encourage further abuses. Walter called for transparent action against false blasphemy accusations, stronger measures to prevent mob violence, protection of vulnerable communities, due process, and equal application of the rule of law.
HRFP called for legal and institutional reforms in Pakistan to better protect minorities, human rights, and democracy. They urged the government to reflect Jinnah’s August 11, 1947 principles of equal citizenship and religious freedom in the country’s laws and Constitution. They also emphasised that effective implementation of these principles is necessary for Pakistan to meet its national and international commitments, including the 17 SDGs and the 2030 Agenda.
The event featured contributions from a broad range of civil society and community representatives, including Ejaz Jacob Gill (political worker), Emmanuel Ghauri (political worker), Nusrat Samuel (social worker), Sohail Emmanuel (volunteer), James Lal (educationist), Cherubina Nadeem (teacher), and Mehak Saleem (youth representative, among others. The speakers emphasised the need for effective implementation of existing legal protections and stronger institutional safeguards for religious minorities. Speakers called for meaningful minority participation in political, social, and national decision-making, greater unity among minority communities, and an end to their exclusion from mainstream national discourse and policymaking.
Participants unanimously passed a resolution urging the government and political leadership to take immediate and practical measures to promote human rights, democracy, religious freedom, equality, and minority protection; strengthen the rule of law; prevent misuse of blasphemy laws; hold perpetrators of violence and child marriages & forced conversions accountable; increase minority representation; and integrate human rights principles into governance and public policy.
The event concluded with participants chanting slogans and holding posters and placards promoting human rights, religious freedom, democracy, equality, and justice, while HRFP reaffirmed its commitment to documenting violations, supporting marginalised communities, and working with civil society to advance equal rights and freedoms for all citizens. (ANI)
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