The Supreme Court in Pakistan has constituted a committee headed by a former Chief Justice of Pakistan for safeguarding rights of minorities.

It will be lead by Tasaddaq Hussain Jilanni after a three-member bench heard the case in connection with rights of minorities.

It directed that the committee comprising representatives of the federation and provinces, should submit its recommendations at the next hearing.

Nasir Saeed, Director of CLAAS-UK, welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to constitute a committee for safeguarding the minorities’ rights.

He said: “Unfortunately minorities are never considered equal citizens of the country and are facing discrimination in all walks of life.

They do not feel safe or secure now and are fleeing the country.

“The situation has continued over several decades – churches are ransacked, Christian villages and towns are attacked and set on fire, and several people have been killed but the perpetrators are never brought to justice.

“I hope former chief justice Jilanni will take this matter seriously and prepare such recommendations which could change the situation for the better, and minorities and their rights will be safeguarded.”