ASIA/PAKISTAN - The Prime Minister meets religious minorities: "You will have a new Ministry"

Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Yousaf Raza Gilani, today met a delegation of representatives of religious minorities of Pakistan in Islamabad and has officially announced the upcoming creation of a new federal department that will take care of religious minorities in the country. This is what was said by sources of Fides present at the meeting, which brought together Christian and Hindu leaders, parliamentarians and representatives of civil society from all over Pakistan.
The meeting was held in a cordial and supportive climate, where the Prime Minister tried to dispel doubts, perplexities and concerns of minority leaders, after the abolition of the federal ministry dedicated to them. Gilani explained that "the government takes into consideration the issues related to religious minorities and those related to the advancement of women’s condition in Pakistan", announcing the creation of a new federal department which can continue to deal, among other powers, with minority affairs. The decentralization plan was obliged- he said - and the provinces will have more powers in many fields, including minority affairs. So, once the new federal department is fully operational, Gilani stressed, "the work of protection, promotion and development of religious minorities will continue and will be stronger than before". Christian and Hindu leaders have made some requests to the Premier with regards to local issues, immediately accepted. Paul Bhatti, brother of the late Minister Shabhaz and Special Adviser of the Prime Minister for Minority Affairs was present at the meeting, and expressed satisfaction and good wishes for the future work in favor of religious minorities in Pakistan. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 07/02/2011)