by Xavier P. William
(June 21, Islamabad, Sri Lanka Guardian) Pakistan Peoples Party came into power after the elections in February 2008, for the first time the Ministry for Minority Affairs was established and Shahbaz Bhatti was the first Federal Minister for Minority Affairs. It was for the first time that a minority member was made a federal minister, earlier the minority members were given the status of State Ministers. Shahbaz Bhatti had been fighting for equal rights of the minorities in Pakistan. In September 2010 the PPP announced to decrease the size of the Federal cabinet to decrease the financial burden on the Federal government. It was announced that through the 18th amendment several departments will be abolished and the others will merge or will be transferred to the provinces. It was announced that the Ministry for Minority Affairs will also be abolished, the minorities raised their voice against the abolishing of the department.
Shahbaz Bhatti talked to the party leadership and informed them about the concerns of the community. PPP also had to face the international pressure against depriving the minorities of their rights. A promised reform finally come to pass, and not a moment too soon. On 18th February 2011 the largest Federal Cabinet of 73 members was reduced to 23 Federal Ministers and a State Minister, but 22 Federal and 1 State minister at the Presidency in Islamabad.
Ultimately Shahbaz Bhatti survived the re-shuffling of the federal cabinet. He once again took the oath to fight for the equal rights of the minorities. Unfortunately the Federal Minister was assassinated early morning on 2nd March 2011 in I-8/3 Sector of Islamabad. This triggered a Country wide wave of protests and aggression against the PPP Government.
Once again the status of the Ministry of Minority Affairs became uncertain, the Prime Minister announced that Shahbaz Bhatti`s brother Paul Bhatti would be the advisor to the PM for Minorty Affairs. According to the laws of the election commission of Pakistan, if a seat of a Federal Minister gets vacant the next member on the list given by the party, lawfully becomes the candidate for the minister. In this case there were 3 names, but the PPP violated the rules and made Paul Bhatti the advisor to the PM.
According to the constitution, when there is an advisor, then there is no need for a Federal Minister as he it entitled to the rights of a Federal Minister. After a leading coaltion partner threatened to join the opposition parties, PPP had to make a coalition with PML-Q ( Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam). Once again violating the constitution the portfolio of the Federal Minister for Minority affairs was given to a member from the PML-Q and Akram Masih Gill became the State Minister.
Due to a non-active role of the Minister and pressure from the Minorities PPP once again thought about abolishing the Ministry for Minority affairs according to the 18th amendment. once again a concern was raised from the Minorities. On Friday a delegation consisting of a Christian MNA Asya Nasir, MPA Prevaiz Rafique, MNA Akram Masih Gill, MPA Khalil Sandhu, Human Rights activists Rizwan Paul, and Kashif Mazhar called on the Prime Minister. The submitted a report requesting that the national character of minorities should be kept intact. They highlighted the contributions of the people belonging to the minorities’
community for national progress and development. The Prime Minister acknowledged the role of the minorities in Pakistan. The party leadership has always treated the minorities equally and have raised the voice for the minorities. The Founding members have always taken steps for the uplift of the minorities in Pakistan.The delegation thanked the Prime Minister for his keen interest in the uplift schemes for the welfare of minorities. They pointed out that as the Ministry of Minority Affairs did not fall in the concurrent list, therefore it might not be devolved to the provinces as it might harm the interests of minorities as well as national character.
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