LAHORE (ENN) Despite constitutional guarantees and statutory protections, religious minorities in Pakistan continue to live on the margins of society. The rising levels of intolerance and repeated incidents of mob violence have deepened the divide between the majority and minority communities, undermining social cohesion and national unity. To reverse this discrimination, it is crucial to implement the landmark minority judgment issued by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani on June 19, 2014. These views were expressed during a one-day conference titled ‘Equal Status of Citizenship: Efforts of Civil Society Organizations and Role of State,’ held on National Minority Day. The event, organized by the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) in collaboration with the Centre for Peace and Development Initiative (CPDI) and the Christian Journalists Association Pakistan (CJAP), brought together over 110 participants, including associate professors, research scholars, youth, journalists, political activists, religious leaders, and human rights defenders. The conference was presided over by the Assistant Commissioner of City of Faisalabad, Muhammad Faisal. Keynote speakers included Shazia George, Executive Director of AWAM; Dr. Ghulam Mustafa, Head of the Department of International Relations at GCUF; Dr. Rizwan Ullah Kokab, Head of the Department of History at GCUF; former parliamentarians Habkook Gill and Noor-un-Nissan Malik; Kashif Nawab from the Christian Journalists Association; and Sonia Javed, Programme Coordinator at AWAM. The sessions were moderator by Ms. Laiba Shoukat. The primary motives behind organizing the event were to discuss the socio-political context that has led to the exclusion of religious minorities from mainstream development, identify factors contributing to ongoing discrimination and offer insights and lessons on how to achieve inclusive governance and reverse discriminatory practices. Assistant Commissioner of City Faisalabad, Muhammad Faisal said, “The government is focused on strengthening the enforcement mechanisms of laws related to religious minorities and is fully committed to combating any incidents of hatred directed towards them.” Executive Director of AWAM, Shazia George, and Programme Coordinator AWAM Sonia Javed said, “Laws without the necessary institutional framework and adequate funding are ineffective. However, a strong political will to enforce these laws, coupled with a sensitized human resource and proper fund allocation, can make a real difference.” Former Parliamentarians Noor-un-Nissan Malik and Habkook Gill stated, “It is crucial to create an environment that guarantees the political participation of religious minorities. Additionally, it is essential to encourage democratic norms within political parties.” A representative of the Christian Journalist Association, Kashif Nawab said, “Quaid’s vision for Pakistan was of an inclusive state where everyone is regarded as equal. His address to the first Constituent Assembly embodied the true essence of equality in citizenship and opportunities. However, subsequent practices have fallen short of realizing this vision.” Associate Professors of GC University Faisalabad, Dr. Ghulam Mustafa and Dr. Rizwan Ullah Kokab, stated, “Political parties must acknowledge their failure to establish the rule of law and inclusive governance, which has left religious minorities in Pakistan vulnerable to discrimination and relegated them to the status of second-class citizens.”
