ISLAMABAD, APR 22 (DNA) – A constitutional bill for establishing the National Council for Minorities is all set to be presented before the parliament, learnt by the reliable sources.

The draft of the bill, named National Council for Minorities Act 2020, has been shared by Dr Shoaib Suddle Commission with various stakeholders, including the Attorney General, Prime Minister Office, Secretaries of various ministries, Chairman PEMRA, provincial Advocate General, Chief Secretaries and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, for seeking recommendations within two weeks, with a view to further improve the independence and effectiveness of the proposed council.
“There shall be a National Council for Minorities, to advance the practical realization of the rights and safeguards provided to the minorities under the Constitution,” the draft stated. The Council shall be headed by Chairperson, to be appointed by the President of Pakistan on the advice of the Prime Minister. First time in national history, the chairperson and all members would belong to the Non-Muslim minority community, it is further learnt.
According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons, the purpose of this bill is a practical realization of the rights of the minorities guaranteed under the Constitution and the laws of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The establishment of the National Council for Minorities shall address the inadequacies in the existing mechanisms and act as a vanguard for the protection of minority rights.

“The establishment of the Council is also an obligation of the Government under landmark judgement of the Supreme of Pakistan [PLD 2014 SC 699] authored by the then Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani,” the draft bill stated.
The One Man Commission, headed by Dr Shaoib Suddle, was established pursuant to the Order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan dated 08th January 2019 for the implementation of historical 19th June judgement regarding the protection of minorities’ rights. Other committee members consisting of Supreme Court lawyer Saqib Jillani, Additional Attorney General Sajjid Ilyas Bhatti and Hindu MNA Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani.