NEW YORK The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom(USCIRF) Friday welcomed Pakistan’s decision of setting up a NationalCommission for Minorities, calling it a step in the right direction.
“We are encouraged by the formation of the National Commission forMinorities as a governmental body promoting the rights of religiousminorities within Pakistan; it’s an important step in Pakistan’s continuingjourney towards the protection of religious freedom,” Anurima Bhargava, oneof USCIRF’s eight commissioners, said in a statement.
In 2014, the Supreme Court of Pakistan directed the government to form acommission “to monitor the practical realization of the rights andsafeguards provided to the minorities under the Constitution and law.”
“USCIRF encourages the Pakistani government to empower the Commission withthe proper authority to meet its intended purpose as defined by the SupremeCourt,” Bhargava added.
Another USCIRF Commissioner, Johnnie Moore, regretted that his March visitto Pakistan along with his fellow commissioner, Bhargava, had to bepostponed because of COVID-19.
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“We welcomed the invitation to visit and are grateful that Pakistan hasactively engaged with USCIRF on issues of religious freedom,“ CommissionerMoore said. “The establishment of the National Commission for Minorities isundoubtedly a step in the right direction, though more steps are certainlyrequired.”
“The prime minister (Imran Khan), and his government, have the ability tomove Pakistan forward, if they so choose, and we will look forward toseeing it,” the statement added.
