ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Human Rights Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada held a meeting with the parliamentary delegation of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Freedom of Religion or Belief from the United Kingdom at the Ministry of Human Rights in Islamabad.
The Minister welcomed the delegates and noted that Pakistan and the UK have long-standing, solid, strategically important relations. The minister stated that tPakistan has a strong constitutional and structural framework in place for the freedom and protection of minorities’ rights in response to a question regarding the measures the state has taken to protect minorities. He cited the Pakistani Constitution’s articles 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, and 36, which guarantee minorities’ freedom of religion, equal participation, and the right to protect and advance their cultural identity, values, and practices.
He added that unfavorable incidents occur whenever any foreign monitoring or human rights organizations visit the country and that these incidents are planned by hostile neighboring countries’ foreign spies in order to defame Pakistan and spread false information. The minister criticized and referred to the incident as a tragic one in which a man was lynched by a mob in Nankana Sahib on blasphemy charges. “Nobody should be permitted to impose their own laws. “Blasphemy laws are framed for deterrence and punishment is severe for such offenses, but the abuse of these laws can only be avoided by taking strict legal action against the culprits,” he said, adding that the police had detained a large number of those responsible for this heinous crime and they would undoubtedly prosecute everyone involved.
Minster added that in Pakistan state institutions and forces are fully vigilant about any human rights violation. “We are victims of cross-border terrorism and vicious propaganda,” he said.
Delegates were further apprised that National Action Plan on Human Rights will introduce policy and legal reforms, particularly for women, children, minorities, etc.
In his concluding remarks, the minister reiterated his commitment to safeguarding and uplifting the minority rights in the country. He said that the international human rights watchdogs show their vigilance on every single tragic incident happening in Pakistan but easily overlook persecution of religious minorities and atrocities of Indian forces in IIOJ&K.
