News Desk
April 13, 2024
In a significant development today, a delegation representing various civil society organizations convened at the National Commission for Justice and Peace’s office to engage with Mr. Anthony Naveed, the recently appointed Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Assembly.
Comprising prominent figures such as Mr. Naeem Yousaf Gill, Mr. Peter Jacob, Mr. Cecil S. Chaudhry, Mr. Kashif Aslam, Mr. Behram Francis, Mr. Attaurehman Saman, Mr. Tahir Bashir Advocate, Ms. Sumera Shafique Advocate, Mr. Kashif Nawab, Mr. Kamran Chaudhry, and Mr. Shahid Rehmat, the delegation extended congratulations to Mr. Anthony on his new role and conveyed their best wishes for his future endeavors.
Recognizing Mr. Anthony’s influential position within the party and the broader power structure, the delegation put forward a series of recommendations aimed at addressing various issues concerning religious minorities in Sindh. These recommendations included advocating for relief measures for minority prisoners through the reduction of sentences upon memorizing the Holy Quran, urging the formation of a working group to address the misuse of blasphemy laws as previously pledged by President Asif Ali Zardari, promoting interfaith harmony policies, auditing funds allocated for minority welfare, and tackling issues such as forced conversions and legislation on family laws for the Christian community.
In response, Mr. Anthony assured the delegation of his unwavering support and sought their collaboration in providing relevant information and documentation on the highlighted issues. He emphasized the importance of fostering harmony among parliamentarians from religious minority backgrounds across the nation. Additionally, Mr. Anthony announced plans to establish the country’s first minority parliamentarians’ caucus, dedicated to resolving key issues and advancing the welfare of minority communities.
Commending the efforts of civil society organizations, Mr. Anthony reiterated his commitment to fostering partnerships and cooperation at all levels to address the concerns of religious minorities effectively.
The meeting underscored the collaborative efforts between civil society and government representatives in striving for the protection and promotion of minority rights, marking a significant step forward in addressing longstanding issues faced by minority communities in Sindh and beyond.