Islamabad (AsiaNews) –At least 5% of employees in federal office jobs must belong to religious minorities, according to a measure introduced yesterday and promoted by Shahbaz Bhatti, Catholic Federal Minister for Minorities. According to the notification, this quota would also apply to all attached departments, autonomous bodies, public corporations and companies administratively controlled by the federal government.
“Since 1947 it is the first time in the history of Pakistan that a government has reserved job quota for minorities” in public employment, the minister, who is also president of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (Apma), speaking to AsiaNews. “Religious minorities – added Bhatti –are suffering from backwardness, illiteracy, social marginalization, religious discrimination, financial deprivation and political incapacity due to under employment and poverty”. The new measure is an opportunity for social advancement and will not attack the possibility of being awarded the job based on personal merit. Besides the 5% reserved by law there is also the possibility of being awarded the public post based solely on the candidates capability, competence and curriculum.
The Catholic Minister for Minorities thanks “President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani for this remarkable step that fulfilled a longstanding demand of the minorities” in a Muslim majority nation. Bhatti adds “no doubt this significant decision of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would play a vital role in the economic uplift of the religious minorities of the country”. He is also convinced the measure will reduce “discrimination towards the minorities”, who will benefit from “new sources of income and a better quality of life”.
Religious minorities have welcomed the measure with enthusiasm, thanking premier Gilani and Minister Bhatti who worked hard on its approval. The Christian community in Pakistan will mark the event with a special day of prayer to be held on May 31st in churches across the country, during which they will invoke the “nations progress” and “well being of minorities”.