80 per cent non-Muslims in Pakistan employed with less salary: Report
Highlights
- The data was seen in a report 'Unequal Citizens: Ending Systemic Discrimination against Minorities'
- The report was compiled by the NHRC with support from the European Union
- According to the report, the discrimination against minorities in the employment quota must end
Eighty per cent of non-Muslims in Pakistan are employed with less salary, while around half of the posts reserved for the minorities in government departments are still vacant, a report has revealed. The data was seen in the report 'Unequal Citizens: Ending Systemic Discrimination against Minorities,' compiled by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) with support from the European Union (EU), Dawn reported.
The report highlights Pakistan's discrimination against minorities and the hazardous working conditions -- which include insufficient safety gear and equipment, lack of job security and payment of low compensation to the injured and families of those who die while working.
It also reveals the sufferings of sanitation workers who have faced societal ostracisation, stigma, discrimination and death in deadly manholes that have been highlighted.
According to the report, the discrimination against minorities in the employment quota must end, and there should be an immediate ban on the practice of publishing discriminatory advertisements and ensuring public transparency in the number of minority posts filled across each basic pay scale.
"On the basis of the letter sent by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), the Ministry of Human Rights took immediate action and issued a letter to chief secretaries of each province, directing them to ensure that minorities are protected in line with international obligations and constitutional guarantees," Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Minister for Human Rights announced in the event.
Pakistan Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Shazia Marri stressed the sensitisation of relevant government departments on unconscious biases that lead to discrimination against minorities, reported Dawn.
During the event, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that the conferences and court judgments were not enough unless a proactive role was played by the government, civil society and media.
"Human rights violations occur because of the abuse of rule of law. Under the Constitution, every citizen is equal. Still, we have the term 'ordinary citizen' commonly used," IHC Chief Justice said.
"Every year, the president of Pakistan is obligated to submit a report on the status of implementation of 'Principles of Policy' of the Constitution which ensures that people are given their basic human rights. Regrettably, this constitutional obligation has never been fulfilled by any president or the governor," he added.
NCHR Chairperson Rabiya Javeri Agha said as a result of NCHR's efforts, federal and provincial governments have made a commitment (in writing) to not only look into the issue of discriminatory practices but to affirm and vigorously uphold constitutional safeguards for minority citizens, according to Dawn.
(With inputs from ANI)
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