{"id":5566,"date":"2019-06-19T05:25:14","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T05:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hrcp-web.org\/hrcpweb\/?p=5566"},"modified":"2021-10-01T05:27:17","modified_gmt":"2021-10-01T05:27:17","slug":"the-long-wait-for-justice-jillani-judgement-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrcp-web.org\/hrcpweb\/the-long-wait-for-justice-jillani-judgement-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"The long wait for justice: Jillani judgement conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

The long wait for justice: Jillani judgement conference<\/strong><\/p>\n

Islamabad<\/em>, 19 June<\/em>. Observing the fifth anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court judgement on the protection of religious minorities\u2019 rights, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) held a conference with other civil society organisations to reiterate the importance of implementing the judgement. The conference, which was organised jointly with the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), and the Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Foundation, was widely attended by civil society, including lawyers, journalists, human rights activists, and members of diplomatic missions.<\/p>\n

Speaking on the occasion, HRCP\u2019s honorary spokesperson, Mr I A Rehman, said that the implementation of the Jillani judgement was \u2018not just a matter of concern for minorities alone. It is the concern of all Pakistanis.\u2019 He added, \u2018States that do not take good care of their minorities, perish. Yet the state has created an environment in which the media is afraid to discuss the problems faced by religious minorities.\u2019<\/p>\n

Describing the judgement as a \u2018key catalyst in building pro-minority jurisprudence in Pakistan\u2019, Mr Peter Jacob, executive director of CSJ, criticised the state\u2019s apparent reluctance to proceed on the judgement\u2019s directives.\u2019<\/p>\n

The panel, which included jurists, rights activists and representatives of different religious communities, spoke at length about the state\u2019s lack of compliance with the Jillani judgment with respect to job quotas for minorities, the protection of sites of worship and the need to eliminate discriminatory material from school and college curricula. Speakers included Mr Imran Kabeer, a representative of Pakistan\u2019s Kalash community; educationist Dr A. H. Nayyar; Mr Parkash Mahtani, a representative of the Hindu community from Sindh; Dr Adnan Rafique; and Bishop Joseph Arshad.<\/p>\n

Justice (R) Ali Nawaz Chowhan, chairperson of the National Commission for Human Rights, impressed on participants the state\u2019s historical and constitutional obligation to protect the interests of religious minorities. Justice (R) Nasira Iqbal said it was not just that the Jillani judgement had to be implemented, but that its \u2018ethos must be understood and pursued.\u2019<\/p>\n

Former Senator Farhatullah Babar pointed out that, following the Jillani judgement, \u2018we thought that all the decisions would be in accordance with the jurisprudence,\u2019 adding that this had not been the case. HRCP Secretary-General Harris Khalique noted that there was a need to revisit the \u2018concept of equal citizenship in Pakistan\u2019s constitution, so that all citizens enjoyed the same rights irrespective of faith.\u2019<\/p>\n

Dr Mehdi Hasan<\/p>\n

Chairperso<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>