Thursday, October 8, 2009
Minorities International Conference’ to be held in Pakistan in December 2009
ASSIST News Service (ANS)
http://www.assistnews.net
Sunday, October 4, 2009
‘Minorities International Conference’ to be held in Pakistan in December 2009
By Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special to ASSIST News Service
LAHORE, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- The International Minorities Alliance (IMA) is holding a two day “International Minorities Conference” from December 12-13. 2009, in the Pakistani eastern city of Lahore at Loyola Hall, 28 Waris Road, Lahore, ANS has learnt.
Delegates from USA, UK, Germany and Italy are expected attend the conference.
Mr. Nazir Qaisar, chairman of the IMA told ANS that the conference would cover “a range of minority-related issues.”
Themes will include “Pakistani Minorities and International Laws,” “Political situation of Pakistan and Minorities,” “Minorities in Overseas Pakistan,” and “Pakistani Minorities and Women in the clutches of discriminatory laws,” as well as “Pakistani Education and Minorities.”
Professor Anjum James Paul will present a paper on the theme of “Pakistani Education and Minorities.”
Mr. Qaisar said that he regretted that the events of the last 62 years in Pakistan with reference to religious minorities have been “very discouraging.”
He said: “Unfortunately the minorities have not been given full political and civil rights in Pakistan and there are a number of basic issues and fundamental concerns that still need to be addressed. Pakistani minorities have been reduced to the level of second rate citizens.”
Mr. Qaisar alleged that “selective criteria, social biases and prejudiced ideologies” had made the existence of the minority communities “miserable.”
He accentuated the need for a just, democratic, plural and tolerant society.
He said the IMA was going to host a two day conference “to discuss and deliberate the future of minorities in Pakistan.”
“We are expecting a whole galaxy, of political leaders ,social workers, human rights activists, prominent members of minorities and especially Christians leaders from around the world to attend the Lahore conference,” said the noted Christian poet.
ANS has learnt that Salman Taseer, governor of the Pakistani province of Punjab would inaugurate the two day conference, whereas Asma Jehangir, a prominent human rights activist and founding member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, would preside the conference on December 12.
Dr. Peter G. David, a delegate from London, will preside the second session of the conference on December 12 whereas Dr. Farooq Sattar, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, would be chief guests.
Poets from across Pakistan would read their poems on the evening of December 13.
Editor’s note: Mr. Nazir Qaisar is recipient of Pakistan’s highest literary award “Adamji.” He has also received other awards including “National and Culture Award,” “Presidential Award” and “Masood Khadarposh Award” in recognition of his services for promoting the Punjabi language.
Mr. Qaisar has authored 14 books in Urdu and Punjabi languages. One of his books is part of curriculum in Indian universities of Chandigarh and Guru Nanak Dev Amrastar. Pakistan’s Allama Iqbal of the Open University has recently introduced optional thesis in M.Phil on Mr. Nazir Qaisar.
http://www.assistnews.net
Sunday, October 4, 2009
‘Minorities International Conference’ to be held in Pakistan in December 2009
By Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special to ASSIST News Service
LAHORE, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- The International Minorities Alliance (IMA) is holding a two day “International Minorities Conference” from December 12-13. 2009, in the Pakistani eastern city of Lahore at Loyola Hall, 28 Waris Road, Lahore, ANS has learnt.
Delegates from USA, UK, Germany and Italy are expected attend the conference.
Mr. Nazir Qaisar, chairman of the IMA told ANS that the conference would cover “a range of minority-related issues.”
Themes will include “Pakistani Minorities and International Laws,” “Political situation of Pakistan and Minorities,” “Minorities in Overseas Pakistan,” and “Pakistani Minorities and Women in the clutches of discriminatory laws,” as well as “Pakistani Education and Minorities.”
Professor Anjum James Paul will present a paper on the theme of “Pakistani Education and Minorities.”
Mr. Qaisar said that he regretted that the events of the last 62 years in Pakistan with reference to religious minorities have been “very discouraging.”
He said: “Unfortunately the minorities have not been given full political and civil rights in Pakistan and there are a number of basic issues and fundamental concerns that still need to be addressed. Pakistani minorities have been reduced to the level of second rate citizens.”
Mr. Qaisar alleged that “selective criteria, social biases and prejudiced ideologies” had made the existence of the minority communities “miserable.”
He accentuated the need for a just, democratic, plural and tolerant society.
He said the IMA was going to host a two day conference “to discuss and deliberate the future of minorities in Pakistan.”
“We are expecting a whole galaxy, of political leaders ,social workers, human rights activists, prominent members of minorities and especially Christians leaders from around the world to attend the Lahore conference,” said the noted Christian poet.
ANS has learnt that Salman Taseer, governor of the Pakistani province of Punjab would inaugurate the two day conference, whereas Asma Jehangir, a prominent human rights activist and founding member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, would preside the conference on December 12.
Dr. Peter G. David, a delegate from London, will preside the second session of the conference on December 12 whereas Dr. Farooq Sattar, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, would be chief guests.
Poets from across Pakistan would read their poems on the evening of December 13.
Editor’s note: Mr. Nazir Qaisar is recipient of Pakistan’s highest literary award “Adamji.” He has also received other awards including “National and Culture Award,” “Presidential Award” and “Masood Khadarposh Award” in recognition of his services for promoting the Punjabi language.
Mr. Qaisar has authored 14 books in Urdu and Punjabi languages. One of his books is part of curriculum in Indian universities of Chandigarh and Guru Nanak Dev Amrastar. Pakistan’s Allama Iqbal of the Open University has recently introduced optional thesis in M.Phil on Mr. Nazir Qaisar.
Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister approves quota for minorities for all government jobs in the province
ASSIST News Service (ANS)
http://www.assistnews.net
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister approves quota for minorities for all government jobs in the province
By Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special to ASSIST News Service
LAHORE, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Mian Shahbaz Sharif, the Chief Minister of the Pakistani province of Punjab, has approved a five percent employment quota for Pakistani minorities for all government jobs in the province, ANS has learnt from sources privy to this information.
Mr. Sharif approved the job quota for minorities due to the efforts of Mr. Kamran Michael, the Provincial Minister for Minorities and Human rights, said our sources.
It is believed that initially the Punjab government was considering allocating a two or three percent job quota to minorities but agreed to stipulate the five percent quota after minority members in the provincial assembly voiced their dissent to the proposal.
The approval of the five percent job quota for Punjabi non-Muslims (mainly Christians) comes months after the Federal government approved such a job quota for Christians in all jobs following the efforts of Pakistan Federal Minister for Minorities, Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti.
The Pakistan cabinet on Thursday (May 21, 2009) approved a five percent job quota in federal government services for Pakistani minorities (non Muslims).
“Pakistan is a federation. After the announcement of a fixed quota for minorities by Federal government it was mandatory for provincial governments to follow suit,” said Professor Anjum James Paul, a human rights activist and a lecturer in political science in Pakistan.
He maintained that “one would only think there was absence of consensus or a clash between federal government and provincial governments” on the issue if “the latter did not implement a job quota for minorities.”
Mr. Anjum said allocation of the quota was a constitutional requirement because the constitution of Pakistan ensures rights and protection of minorities.
ANS understands that Pakistani minorities often face problems in getting jobs commensurate with their qualifications. Christians also face difficulties in getting promotion to a level appropriate to their qualifications and experience, or in getting a job at all.
Anjum believed that the announcement of the five percent quota by the Punjab government would help mitigate the “sense of deprivation” among Pakistani Christians, the lowest of the low in Islamic republic of Pakistan.
Hailing this good news for the Christian minority of Pakistan, Anjum said it would “help heal the wounds they suffered during recent incidents of violence against them,” alluding to the recent killings of Christians in Gojra in August after violence broke out following accusations that Christians had committed blasphemy.
Mr. Anjum demanded that the government of Punjab “should ensure retrospective implementation of the quota in those departments where recruitment was made after the announcement of fixed quota by the federal government.”
He feared that the benefits of the approved job quota would not trickle down to the Christians if they were not employed on the basis of this quota in recently filled vacancies.
Asked to elaborate, Mr. Anjum said that the Punjab government might announce new vacancies after several years. He also demanded that instead of sending Christian beneficiaries of the quota to far-flung places they should be appointed on jobs close to their residences.
“This will avoid them painfully long commuting,” he said.
http://www.assistnews.net
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister approves quota for minorities for all government jobs in the province
By Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special to ASSIST News Service
LAHORE, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Mian Shahbaz Sharif, the Chief Minister of the Pakistani province of Punjab, has approved a five percent employment quota for Pakistani minorities for all government jobs in the province, ANS has learnt from sources privy to this information.
Mr. Sharif approved the job quota for minorities due to the efforts of Mr. Kamran Michael, the Provincial Minister for Minorities and Human rights, said our sources.
It is believed that initially the Punjab government was considering allocating a two or three percent job quota to minorities but agreed to stipulate the five percent quota after minority members in the provincial assembly voiced their dissent to the proposal.
The approval of the five percent job quota for Punjabi non-Muslims (mainly Christians) comes months after the Federal government approved such a job quota for Christians in all jobs following the efforts of Pakistan Federal Minister for Minorities, Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti.
The Pakistan cabinet on Thursday (May 21, 2009) approved a five percent job quota in federal government services for Pakistani minorities (non Muslims).
“Pakistan is a federation. After the announcement of a fixed quota for minorities by Federal government it was mandatory for provincial governments to follow suit,” said Professor Anjum James Paul, a human rights activist and a lecturer in political science in Pakistan.
He maintained that “one would only think there was absence of consensus or a clash between federal government and provincial governments” on the issue if “the latter did not implement a job quota for minorities.”
Mr. Anjum said allocation of the quota was a constitutional requirement because the constitution of Pakistan ensures rights and protection of minorities.
ANS understands that Pakistani minorities often face problems in getting jobs commensurate with their qualifications. Christians also face difficulties in getting promotion to a level appropriate to their qualifications and experience, or in getting a job at all.
Anjum believed that the announcement of the five percent quota by the Punjab government would help mitigate the “sense of deprivation” among Pakistani Christians, the lowest of the low in Islamic republic of Pakistan.
Hailing this good news for the Christian minority of Pakistan, Anjum said it would “help heal the wounds they suffered during recent incidents of violence against them,” alluding to the recent killings of Christians in Gojra in August after violence broke out following accusations that Christians had committed blasphemy.
Mr. Anjum demanded that the government of Punjab “should ensure retrospective implementation of the quota in those departments where recruitment was made after the announcement of fixed quota by the federal government.”
He feared that the benefits of the approved job quota would not trickle down to the Christians if they were not employed on the basis of this quota in recently filled vacancies.
Asked to elaborate, Mr. Anjum said that the Punjab government might announce new vacancies after several years. He also demanded that instead of sending Christian beneficiaries of the quota to far-flung places they should be appointed on jobs close to their residences.
“This will avoid them painfully long commuting,” he said.
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