NEW YORK: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that Pakistan was taking “all measures to protect the rights of minorities” and that everyone in this country had religious freedom.

Speaking during a high-level meeting on effective promotion of Declaration on Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities held on sidelines of 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session he said that protection of rights of minorities was basic tenet of protection of human rights in Pakistan.  “Kartarpur Corridor is a reflection of our efforts for interfaith harmony and it is a corridor of hope,” said Bilawal, adding that Pakistan celebrates Minority Protection Day on August 11 every year.

Talking about minorities in India, PPP chairperson said that anti-Islamic trend is spreading therein. “Unfortunately, there is a state where minority rights are being suppressed,” he said.  He added that minorities are being suppressed in this state under its policy. “India was once a secular state, but now it’s becoming a Hindu-dominated country.” Bilawal said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Hindutva ideology is being promoted in India, which has fuelled violence against its two billion Muslim minority in country. “India’s Muslim minority is largest in world and Muslims are killed by mobs over issue of cows,” he added. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Wednesday that peace cannot be established in South Asia without resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute peacefully on the basis of justice and international laws. He expressed these views while addressing the ministerial meeting of the Coordination Group on Jammu and Kashmir of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 22 2022

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