Pakistan
PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
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56 RUE DE MOILLEBEARU - 1209 GENEVA - (22) 734.77.60
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Statement by
Mr. Jai Jai Veshno Mange Ram
On items: 16 & 18
54th SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
GENEVA, 31st MARCH 1998
Mr. Jai Jai Veshno Mange Ram
Mr. Chairman!
Let me begin by thanking Mr. Abualfatah Amor, Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance for his report which we have studied with considerable attention. My government attaches great importance to the task being performed by the Special Rapporteur. We will continue to extend all possible assistance to him in the implementing his mandate.
Mr. Chairman!
Since its creation, Pakistan has actively participated in the endeavors of the international community to promote and protect human rights including the rights of minorities. The Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, envisioned Pakistan as " an ideal State based on Social Justice where all its citizens will enjoy equal rights and be fee from fear, want and ignorance."
The constitution of Pakistan guarantees protection and safeguards to its citizens irrespective of their caste, creed, or religion. article 36 of the constitution states that " States shall safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of minorities including their due representation in the Federal and Provincial services."
The Government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is committed to the promotion and protection of the rights of all minorities in Pakistan. In his first address to the nation, the Prime Minister said and I quote " Our religion commands us to safeguard the social, religious, and economic interests of the minorities, afford them equal opportunities of progress and there shall be total regard for their fundamental rights."
Mr. Chairman!
As is clear from the report of the Special Rapporteur, religious intolerance and prejudice is a disease that plagues all societies in this era. We, in Pakistan, are working hard to establish a tolerant society which provides security to all its citizens regardless of their religious beliefs.
Our task is made difficult by the mischief of external agencies. At present, Pakistan has become the target of foreign funded terrorist activities. These terrorists have no respect for human life or reverence for places of worship. We have lost over six hundred precious lives to foreign-sponsored terrorism designed to force the flames of ethnic and religious intolerance and to perpetuate a cycle of violence in Pakistan.
The Government of Pakistan will vigorously counter this threat to the safety and security of all our people. We will not tolerate such foreign terrorism and subversion on our soil. Those of our compatriots who become the tools of external must expect a firm response from the nation.
Mr. Chairman!
The Special Rapporteur has mentioned the treatment of minorities in Pakistan, particularly of Christians. as a member of a minority community, I can say with confidence that the minorities are a vibrant thread in the fabric of Pakistani society. Minorities in Pakistan are subjected to any kind of systematic discrimination. Members of minority communities have been represented in the Parliament, in the Cabinet, in the bureaucracy, - in short, in all walks of life. Names such as those of Jogender Nath Mandal, the first Law Minister of Pakistan, C.E Gibbon, Deputy Speaker of the Constituent Assembly, Ram Bhagwan Das, Honourable Judge of the Sindh High Court, Justice A.R cornelieus; Chief Justice of Pakistan and Krishan Lal Bheel, Federal parliamentary Secretary are but a few examples.
Mr. Chairman!
The incident at Shantinagar was tragic aberration where a small group of miscreants instigated a chain of events which led to the destruction of the property of members of the Christian community. The Prime Minister himself visited Shantinagar and extended categorical instructions that those implicated in the incident must be arrested immediately and that those affected must be compensated. So far, an estimated amount of US$ 735000 has been disbursed among the affectees and the repair of churches and homes has almost been completed.
Mr. Chairman!
The constitution of Pakistan enjoins that all minorities in Pakistan live in complete peace and harmony and enjoy full religious freedom. We stand by these injunctions. Minorities have recourse to any court of Law in case they feel their rights have been affected in any manner.
I have been a member of the Federal Advisory Council on Minorities which is chaired by the Prime Minister. In addition, there exists a National Commission for Minorities which:
I- Considers such laws, executive instructions, orders or procedural practices of the Government or Government agencies, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies and agencies, which are reported to be discriminatory towards minorities.
II- Recommend to the Government such steps as shall ensure fuller and effective participation by members of minority communities in all aspects of national life.
III- Ensure their full and effective participation and association with their religious and cultural festivals and celebrations.
IV- Look into the grievances and representations made by the members of any community to the Government of Pakistan, after examination of such grievances, to make suitable recommendations to the Government of Pakistan.
V- Ensure that Churches, Shrines, Temples, Gurdwaras and other places of worship of minority communities are preserved and kept in a functional condition.
Minority representation is ensured at all levels of administration, the districts, divisional and provincial levels, through minority committees so that their concerns can be effectively addressed.
We are making all possible endeavours to prevent the misuse of our laws concerning blaspheming against the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) or our religion, Islam.
Mr. Chairman!
In the section containing conclusions and recommendation, the Special Rapporteur has recommended that his customary title as Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance should be changed to "Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief". My delegation believes that since a change in title does not imply a change in mandate, the suggestion could be considered favourably.
We also support the suggestion to take initiatives on sensitive priority issue; mentioned in paragraph 110 of the report, especially religious extremism. History warns us that the first step down the slippery slope to the Holocaust was the installation in office of an intolerant extremist nationalist regime through an electoral process. My delegation is, therefore, deeply concerned over the growing trend towards religious extremism particularly in countries where such extremist movements are voted into power and become capable of forming the Government. Such situations, where "Illiberal" democracy may emerge require the constant attention of the international community.
Thank You Mr. Chairman