ISLAMABAD: Senator Danesh Kumar was unanimously elected Convener Parliamentary Committee on Minority Caucus during its introductory session on Tuesday.
The session was held under the convenership of Senator Danesh Kumar, with the participation of Senators Poonjo Bheel and Khalil Tahir Sandhu, and MNAs Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, Kesoo Mal Kheal Das, Nelson Azeem, Ramesh Lal, Naveed Aamir, Ramesh Kumar Vankwani and Sanjay Perwani.
The caucus adopted the TROs unanimously and reaffirmed its commitment to advancing minority rights in accordance with constitutional mandates and national values of equality, justice, and religious freedom.
The convener noted that the committee’s recommendations would form the basis of a comprehensive reform agenda to be presented in upcoming sessions.
The meeting opened with members unanimously congratulating Senator Danesh Kumar on his election as convener.
The members expressed confidence that the forum will ensure that the rights of minorities were effectively tabled, discussed, and resolved.
In his address, Senator Kumar thanked the participants, stating: “As per the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the rights of minorities
are reiterated again and again.
This caucus will work to ensure those constitutional guarantees translate into practical safeguards and policy reforms.”
Each member introduced themselves and presented their respective agendas, focusing on justice, policy revision and equal rights for minority communities.
The committee adopted a structured review of issues, highlighting urgent policy gaps and areas needing reform.
The committee discussed revision of educational policies to ensure scholarships for minority students, removal of hate speech and discriminatory content from English and Urdu curricula, and limiting religious viewpoints to relevant religious syllabus only.
The members called for extending the existing 20-mark quota for students of Hifz-e-Quran to minority students in an equivalent form, besides strengthening the employment quota for minorities.
Recommendation was made that the chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) must be inducted from a minority community ensuring representation aligned with custodial responsibilities over minority heritage sites.
The committee also stressed that that senior officials, not below the rank of additional secretary, must attend caucus meetings.
It said all rules applicable to Senate standing committee must also apply to the minority caucus for procedural integrity.
The committee reviewed critical data presented during the session according to which Pakistan has 1,285 Hindu worship sites and 532 Gurdwaras, of which only 37 such sites are currently functional.
The members emphasised the urgent need for restoration and activation of all worship sites to safeguard religious heritage and ensure equitable access for minority communities.
