The Parliamentary Council for Human Rights and representatives of minority communities have called for stronger measures to protect minority rights in Sindh.

Speaking at a media briefing in Karachi, MNA and former federal minister Kamran Michael, Parliamentary Council for Human Rights Executive Director Shafiq Chaudhry and other representatives urged authorities to address gaps in political representation, employment, education and social protection.

The speakers said minority rights should remain an integral part of citizenship rights rather than being treated as a separate or secondary issue.

They called for stronger safeguards against violence, discrimination and coercion while seeking greater participation of minority communities in public and political life.

Calls for Action Against Forced Conversions

The speakers cited data from the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) showing that at least 136 alleged cases of forced religious conversion were reported in 2023, based on civil society reports.

The NCHR has separately documented the same figure and said most of the reported cases involved Hindu women and girls in Sindh.

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The representatives called for effective legal measures to prevent forced religious conversions and protect vulnerable members of minority communities.

They also demanded strict enforcement of the minimum marriage age of 18 years.

The NCHR has previously called for stronger safeguards in cases involving forced conversion, abduction and early marriage, including improved procedures to determine whether a religious conversion is voluntary.

The speakers also proposed district-level mechanisms to respond to complaints and provide protection to minority communities.

Minority Employment Quota Under Focus

The participants also called for transparent implementation of the five per cent employment quota for minorities.

They said allocating a quota alone would not ensure equal employment opportunities without proper monitoring and enforcement.

The representatives urged authorities to track recruitment under the quota and ensure that eligible candidates receive equal opportunities in public-sector employment.

They also called for broader measures to address discrimination in workplaces and improve access to economic opportunities.

Political Representation and Education

The participants highlighted the need for greater political representation of minority communities.

They said minorities should have meaningful opportunities to participate in decision-making at different levels of government.

Education also featured prominently in the demands.

The representatives called for curriculum reforms to remove discriminatory or stereotypical portrayals of religious minorities.

They also urged authorities to include the history, contributions, culture and heritage of minority communities in educational material.

Other proposals included scholarships for minority students and greater recruitment of qualified teachers from minority communities.

Broader Protection for Minority Communities

The speakers said minority rights also required stronger protection in areas including civil liberties, cultural participation and social welfare.

They called for institutional mechanisms that could respond more effectively to complaints involving violence, discrimination and coercion.

The demands come amid continuing discussion in Pakistan over the protection of religious minorities and safeguards against forced conversion through marriage.

The NCHR and Legal Aid Society have identified forced conversion through marriage as a complex issue involving social, economic, gender and institutional factors. Their research has called for stronger legal procedures, judicial oversight, victim protection and improved investigation mechanisms.

The participants urged the Sindh government and relevant institutions to translate existing legal protections into effective measures at the district and community levels.