PESHAWAR - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is determined to protect rights and properties of non-Muslims and has made several legislations for this purpose, its additional secretary said yesterday.
KP government has adopted two bills, aimed at addressing genuine problems of Non Muslims, Additional Secretary Law and Parliamentary Affairs Israr Mohammad Khan said yesterday.
“Law and other implementing departments are busy in framing business rules for the implementation of these new bills,” he said.
He was addressing a meeting arranged by South Asia Partnership (SAP) Pakistan Peshawar chapter here at Peshawar.
On behalf of Sikh community, Sardar Gorpal Singh informed that his community is facing life threats.
In recent months around one dozen people from Sikh community fell victims of terrorism. Now majority people from Sikh community are unable to run shops and other economic activities in other towns and markets, he added. Similarly he said due to poverty, children from Sikh community couldn’t go to schools.
Justin Jacob of Christian community said they are facing unemployment problem as due to lack of approach, Christians couldn’t get jobs in government, semi government and autonomous bodies.
He said that all Non Muslims are also ahead with hate words in textbooks and media. On such grounds, he said that government must realize its responsibilities.
Israr Khan on behalf of government assured the Non Muslim communities’ representatives of resolving their genuine problems.
He also assured to help in polishing of the proposed draft aimed at commission for Non Muslims.
Senior Journalist Shamim Shahid who is working on the issues of Non Muslims has briefed the officers from different law enforcing departments about problems of Non Muslims.
He reminded that Hindus and Sikh communities are unable to utilize their inherited properties due to lack of proper personal and families’ laws.
Similarly their religious places are either occupied by people from land and property mafia or locked by the government.
He said that it is time for the government to fulfil its responsibilities at this stage otherwise continue migration of non-Muslims could pose bad impacts on the image of country at abroad.
Earlier on behalf of SAP Pakistan Nusrat Ara has welcomed the participants and briefed them about SAP Pakistan activities.