Pakistan senate drops National Commission for Minorities Bill

Pakistan’s Senate, the upper house of parliament, decided on 9 August to drop theNational Commission for Minorities Bill 2023, which had been passed by the National Assembly on 8 August amid strong criticism by civil society.

Severalconcerns and objections were raised by civil society activists and groups.The draft bill was criticised for violating the UN Paris Principles, which outline how national institutions should promote and protect human rights, as well as the 2014 Supreme Court of Pakistan judgement on the protection and promotion of rights of religious minorities in Pakistan.

After the Bill was passed in the National Assembly of Pakistan, meetings were held between civil society and political leaders which resulted in the Senate dropping the proposed bill.

CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: ‘CSW welcomes the Senate’s decision to drop the flawed draft National Commission for Minorities Bill after consulting with civil society. We hope that the dialogue between all relevant stakeholders will continue, with a view to ensuring that the much-needed legislation to safeguard the rights of religious minorities in Pakistan is as effective as possible.’