Over 100 Christians on Monday staged a demonstration seeking implementation of the five per cent quota in public sector jobs, especially in the police and education departments.
Office-bearers of National Minorities Alliance of Pakistan, Yashu Welfare Organisation, Social Welfare Department, Awaz District Forum, Reet Network, Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) and Human Rights Forum participated in the demonstration.
The participants were holding banners and placards and marched to the regional police officer’s office. The protestors staged a sit-in there for several hours.
Speaking on the occasion, National Minorities Alliance chairman Lala Robin Daniel said although the government had fixed a five per cent quota for religious minorities in all government jobs, the rule was not being implemented.
“Recently, the Education Department made some recruitments but the 5 per cent minority quota was not fully observed.”
He said the police department was also recruiting but Christians were being ignored. Daniel appealed to the chief justice of the Lahore High Court and the chief minister to take notice of the situation and ensure implementation on the minorities’ quota in government jobs.
He said if they did not act, religious minority communities would be forced to launch a series of protests for their rights.
He said Christians were equal members of the society and their rights had been enshrined in the Constitution. He said it was tragic that members of the society who could help in national development were being sidelined due to their faith.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2014.