The Senate of Pakistan has announced the establishment of a Minority Caucus, aimed at protecting the rights and promoting the inclusion of minority communities in the country. The announcement was made by Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, marking a significant step towards ensuring representation and equality for minorities in the nation’s legislative process.
The Minority Caucus will be composed of senators from minority communities as well as members of the National Assembly, who will be nominated by the Speaker National Assembly. The initiative follows a mutual agreement between the Chairman Senate and the Speaker National Assembly in response to long-standing demands from minority senators for a forum to address their specific issues.
According to Chairman Gillani, the main purpose of the caucus is to safeguard constitutional and legal rights of minorities, ensure the effective implementation of laws related to their welfare, and promote policies that encourage tolerance, respect for diversity, and interfaith harmony across Pakistan. In its first meeting, the caucus will develop its Terms of Reference, which will set out its objectives, values, and working mechanisms in collaboration with government bodies, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders.
The initial membership of the caucus includes Senators Danesh Kumar, Khalil Tahir Sandhu, Gurdeep Singh, and Poonjo Mal Bheel. These senators represent a cross-section of Pakistan’s minority communities and will play a key role in shaping the caucus’s agenda.
Chairman Gillani emphasized his longstanding commitment to the empowerment of women and minorities, referencing his efforts as former Prime Minister to integrate these groups into the national mainstream and ensure their active participation in all sectors. He praised the late Benazir Bhutto for her leadership in advancing the rights of women and minorities, and highlighted similar commitments by Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari to continue supporting these communities.
Highlighting recent achievements, Gillani spoke about the increase in public sector job quotas for women and minorities, including a dedicated four percent representation for minorities in the Senate. He stressed that greater representation in high-level decision-making processes is essential for addressing historical injustices and unleashing the full potential of marginalized groups.
The caucus is expected to play an active role in ensuring the rights of minorities are protected and promoted at the highest levels of government. In addition, a special resolution will be presented in the Senate’s next session to formally recognize the contributions of minorities to Pakistan’s development and prosperity.
Chairman Gillani concluded by acknowledging the critical role that minorities play in Pakistan’s progress, and expressed hope that the new Minority Caucus would become a strong advocate for the country’s marginalized communities, supporting the broader goal of a more inclusive, tolerant, and peaceful society.
