Minority rights march to be held outside Quaid’s mausoleum in Karachi on 11th

Karachi will witness a Minority Rights March on August 11 to commemorate National Minority Rights Day and call for equal rights for religious minorities. Minority Rights March (MRM), along with allied civil society groups and activists, will present 11 key demands, including educational access, political representation, protection from forced conversions, and the prohibition of blasphemy laws.

MRM spokesperson Sheema Kermani emphasized that August 11 was a poignant reminder of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah's vision of an equal and democratic Pakistan, where religion would not be a state affair. However, she lamented that minorities still endured attacks, discrimination, and unequal treatment. Dr Sijal Shafique, a co-organizer, highlighted that most Hindus and Christians in Pakistan lived below the poverty line and suffered discrimination across multiple domains.

The march also aims to address their economic and social challenges, calling for constitutional amendments to remove discriminatory provisions and ensure minority representatives can vie for top constitutional offices. Pastor Ghazala Shafique denounced the wrongful accusations of blasphemy against Christians, which led to severe consequences for them and their families.

Pastor Luke Victor criticized official portrayals of minority well-being, demanding constitutional changes to Articles 41 and 91 to rectify the existing discrimination. The march's demands also include denationalization of minority educational institutions, a 10% quota for minorities in education and employment, removal of discriminatory textbook content, and greater representation in legislatures and political parties.

They seek criminalization of forced conversions, safeguards for minority women and families, and an independent judicial probe into blasphemy law misuses. MRM invites individuals from all backgrounds to join the rally for collective pursuit of equality and justice.