Qaim orders IGP to ensure minorities’ safety
Karachi: In the wake of the recent murder of two Hindu brothers in Hyderabad, the chief minister directed the police chief on Monday to prepare a foolproof security plan for the protection of minorities.
Presiding over a meeting held in connection with the World Minorities Day, Qaim Ali Shah also formed an investigation team headed by Hyderabad DIG Sanaullah Abbasi to arrest the people responsible for the dual murder.
The brothers, Ashok Kumar Malhi and Heera Lal Malhi, were both traders who were shot dead by robbers when they resisted them.
The chief minister said a substantial amount of money had been allocated in this year’s budget for the minorities.
He also asked minority MPAs to submit their proposed development schemes to the deputy commissioners.
It was decided at the meeting that the Centre would be approached for transferring land available in Tharparkar district to the provincial government so it could be distributed among registered farmers.
The participants of the meeting also decided that a bill would be tabled in the provincial assembly for replacing the word “scheduled castes” used in official correspondences to “non-Muslims” to avoid hurting sentiments.
The decision to reserve five percent of government jobs for minorities will also be implemented in letter and spirit.
Besides, young members of minority communities will be recruited in the police force.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the Pakistan People’s Party was determined to protect the minorities’ constitutional rights and work for their prosperity.
Shah said he had approved a scheme costing Rs220 million for the installation of CCTV cameras at the minorities’ worship places.
Besides, he added, Rs423 million were spent on development schemes for minority communities last financial year and a substantial amount had been earmarked for them this year as well.
Shah said Rs20 million would be released to each division for minority communities’ schemes.
In addition, district development committees have also been formed to review schemes and implement them using the Rs25 billion reserved for this purpose.
Apart from the minorities’ development budget, an amount of Rs100 million has also been allocated for their medical aid, scholarships, dowries etc.
MNA Faryal Talpur, the head of the PPP women wing, recommended that two ambulances should be provided to the minorities’ affairs department for transporting patients and bodies from Karachi and Hyderabad to the rural areas of the province.
The acting IGP informed the participants of the meeting that 13 suspects had been arrested in connection with the murder of the two Hindu brothers.
The participants of the meeting included provincial ministers Mukesh Kumar Chawla, Gyan Chand, Daya Ram, Ali Mardan Shah; Senator Hari Ram; Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s Adviser Surendar Valasi; deputy commissioners; SPs from Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Tharparkar districts and Home Secretary Dr Niaz Abbasi. Later, they cut a cake to celebrate the World Minority Day.
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