"Minorities Quota in Punjab" published in the Daily Frontier Post

The daily Frontier Post
September 10, 2009
http://www.thefrontierpost.com

Minorities Quota in Punjab
Prof. Anjum James Paul Faisalabad
The Federal Government has already issued five per cent quota for minorities in the civil services of Pakistan but government of Punjab is hesitating to issue the notification in this regard. Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA) has grave concerns on this issue as there have already been recruitments in different departments ignoring 5% quota for the religious minorities. Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Quaid of Pakistan Muslim League (N) announced 5 % quota on a Christmas programme in December 2008. It is astonishing that in the presence of PML (N) regime in Punjab there has been no implementation of this quota yet which is not a good symbol. Due to this there is utmost disappointment in the minorities’ youth. They are already frustrated due to the recent tragic incidents of Bahminiwala, Korian and Gojra. The Government should make all her efforts to comfort them and issue notification without any further delay. There must be considerations that the minorities may not be deprived of their fundamental right. Punjab government is requested to follow the notification of Federal government. I was assured last week on a telephone call by Mr. Kamran Michael, Minister of Human Rights and Minorities Affairs that notification of 5% quota for minorities will be issued in the next three or four days but there has not been action on it yet.