Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Fides Service) - A global action plan to improve the conditions of religious minorities, promote their rights, ensure life safety: is what the Catholic Paul Bhatti has in mind, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister for Religious Minorities Affairs and brother of late Minister Shabhaz Bhatti. The plan, Paul Bhatti explains to Fides, is inspired by and intends to continue Shabhaz’ mission, and based on some basic assumptions to ensure minorities: education, legal support, security, elimination of discriminatory laws, real protection of the freedoms and rights of citizenship.
Bhatti's plan comes at a delicate moment in Pakistani politics, in the aftermath of the abolition of the Federal Ministry for Religious Minorities. The Pakistani government, together with the abolition, had promised to institute a new federal ministry ("for harmony and human rights") that would have absorbed and maintained part of the delegations of the old ministry at a federal level (see Fides 2 / 7 / 2011). But this, note sources of Fides, has not yet happened. In this context Paul Bhatti as Special Advisor and as a leader of the "All Pakistan Minorities Alliance" (APMA) has developed his line of action, outlining the future of religious minorities in Pakistan: a line which is being submitted to the Prime Minister and who has exclusively shared with Fides.
Bhatti identifies the main reasons that create suffering to religious minorities in Pakistan: unstable governments (34 years of military dictatorships and 29 with a civilian government in 63 years of independence); discriminatory laws (such as the one on blasphemy); increase in religious extremism, fanaticism and terrorism; poverty, illiteracy and poor access to education.
To contrast these problems, which prevent the development of minorities and limit the rights, Bhatti presents a series of basic steps: "At the local level, promote educational activities that affirm ethnic tolerance at each step; hold periodic round tables with representatives of religious leaders and civil society; establish interfaith harmony dialogue at all levels to mitigate discrimination and violence against minorities; impose restrictions and sanctions on hate speeches or publications of hate literature and intolerance". A specific work, then, should touch education and law: " The state must be encouraged to provide religious education in school curriculum, which informs on all religions in the same manner; it is urgent to start specific programs to promote the education of minority community members". In legal terms "it is necessary to revise or abolish discriminatory laws and practices towards minorities, and must provide legal and financial support for victims", ensuring the functioning and fairness of ordinary justice for citizens and non-Muslims, and at the same time, "provide immediate shelter and security assistance for lives under threat".
Besides, Bhatti, following his brother’s ideas, underlines the need for an active presence of the leaders for religious minorities in politics to defend their rights: " 4 seats need to be reserved for minorities in the Senate and, at an occupational level, 5% reserved to minority leaders in all federal public services. The government should also celebrate with emphasis on 11 August, Day for Pakistan's minorities, and respect the major religious holidays, promoting encounters between majority leaders and minority leaders, especially in critical areas". All this, concludes Bhatti to Fides, will be possible if "democratic institutions will govern in Pakistan: that is why we appeal to the International Community to support, to create a society where peace, religious freedom, civil co-existence and human dignity are respected". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 11/07/2011)
