Minorities' Protection Bill to be tabled in National Assembly

Islamabad, Aug 18(ANI): Pakistan's Minorities Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti has said that a bill aimed at addressing the concerns of the minorities would soon be tabled in the National Assembly.

Bhatti said that a draft of the bill would be finalised after consultation with all political parties, representatives of minorities, Islamic scholars and other stakeholders.

"The discriminatory laws against minorities, which were incorporated into the Constitution during Gen Zia's regime would be amended through the bill," The Dawn quoted Bhatti, as saying.

He further said that Gen Zia had framed laws, which were violating democratic norms and basic human rights and negated the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Bhatti highlighted that the current law makes the minority communities feel deprived, neglected and insecure and not getting equal rights and opportunities in accordance with the vision of Jinnah.

He said the proposed bill would promote inter-faith harmony and strengthen national unity. (ANI)