Parliament Passes Minority Rights Bill in Joint Session

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Parliament has approved the bill on minority rights in a joint session with a clear majority.

The session, presided over by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, saw Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarrar present the bill, which establishes the National Commission for Minority Rights 2025. The bill was passed with 160 votes in favor and 79 against.

Speaking in the joint session, Law Minister Tarrar highlighted that the bill follows a 2014 Supreme Court directive to create a commission for minorities. He also clarified that, under the law, Ahmadis (Qadianis) are considered non-Muslims.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed his concerns about potential conflicts with the Constitution, referring to previous amendments such as the 18th and 26th constitutional amendments. He urged that legislation should not contradict the Constitution and criticized certain privileges granted in the 27th amendment, which he claimed were divisive and lacked public acceptance.

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Fazlur Rehman also noted that recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology were not reflected in the bill, particularly regarding issues such as pre-18-year-old marriages and transgender rights. He criticized references in the bill to United Nations requirements, asking whether lawmakers were swearing allegiance to the Constitution of Pakistan or to international directives.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the government accepted amendments proposed by Fazlur Rehman and Kamran Murtaza, emphasizing that the bill had already passed both houses and that the President had raised minor concerns before signing. He underscored that governments are temporary, and matters of religion and minority rights must be treated with utmost seriousness rather than political maneuvering.

The National Commission for Minority Rights 2025 is expected to strengthen protections for minorities in Pakistan, ensuring their legal and constitutional rights are upheld.