ASIA/PAKISTAN - A Christian is Minister for Finance in the Government of Punjab

Lahore (Agenzia Fides ) – In Punjab, the most important province of Pakistan, a Christian politician, Kamran Michael, is playing an increasingly important institutional role, report local Fides sources. Michael has just been given the Finance portfolio, “a role of great importance, a decisive action by the provincial Government.” It should be said that Kamran Michael was formerly a member of the executive of the Punjab and held the portfolio for Human Rights and Women's Development and that for Minority Affairs. To that today is added the prestigious delegation of the Ministry of Finance, which has binding powers on the budget and allocation of funds available to the Government.
“This is a very good sign, that a Christian politician, sincerely committed to the rights of religious minorities, can take on an assignment of this standing is significant and gives us great hope,” says a Fides source from the Christian community in Punjab.
Punjab is also the province with the most cases of false accusations of blasphemy and of headquarters of radical Islamic groups. Following this appointment, the NGOs and human rights groups hope that “the Government will allocate more resources to projects for the development, progress and evaluation of religious minorities,” continues our source.
Michael is part of the political party of the Muslim League – Nawaz, which has often been accused of being too conciliatory toward the Islamic radical groups. Michael, within the party - which is in government in Punjab and in opposition in the federal government - is promoting a moderate attitude. He fought for equal rights for all citizens, the protection of Christian minorities and religious harmony. According to Fides sources, Michael “is a bit like Shahbaz Bhatti, his friend and co-worker, representative of the Pakistan Peoples Party.”
Recently Michael, as Minister for Religious Affairs with funds of 40 million rupees, opened new churches, Christian homes and buildings rebuilt by his Ministry, in Sangla Hill in Punjab (the scene of a serious attack by Islamic fundamentalists in 2005) and restored more than 100 churches all over Punjab. (PA) (17/3/2011)