Despite a 10-year delay in implementing the 2014 Supreme Court orders, the government was accused of “rushing” the legislation
The National Assembly on Wednesday approved the 27th Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2025. PHOTO: RADIO PAKISTAN
The National Commission for Minority Rights Bill 2025 was passed by the National Assembly and the Senate in a joint session on Tuesday, despite intense debate. This landmark legislation aims to protect the rights of non-Muslims and establish a dedicated minority commission.
The bill is part of a decade-long effort to implement the Supreme Court’s 2014 directive on a special commission to safeguard minority rights. Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, who introduced the bill, said: “The bill was delayed for 10 years and politics should not influence it.” He added that the passage of the bill marks a historic step towards formalizing the protection of minority rights in Pakistan.
According to the bill, the commission will be composed of 16 members. Each of the four provinces will nominate two minority members. One member will represent Islamabad, appointed at the discretion of the Chief Commissioner. Three members will come from existing bodies (the National Human Rights Commission, the National Commission on the Status of Women and the Commission on the Rights of the Child), appointed by their respective presidents. Grade 21 officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Human Rights will also be part of the commission. The members and the chairperson must be at least 35 years old and the chairperson must have experience in human rights.
Read: 2014 verdict on minorities yet to be implemented: SC
The session saw heated exchanges on the long-standing issue of protection of minorities and the Qadiani community. Minister Tarar stressed that the bill was aimed at implementing the Supreme Court directive and assured lawmakers that no legislation would contravene the Quran and Sunnah.
Clause 35 of the bill, relating to the Qadiani community, was withdrawn. The JUI-F-led amendment to remove the clause, moved by Alia Kamran, was passed by a majority vote. Minister Tarar assured lawmakers that the commission would uphold the Constitution and that no legislation would contravene the Quran and Sunnah.
Kamran Murtaza highlighted the potential conflict with previous protections for Qadianis, while Senator Noorul Haq Qadri and Qadir Patel stressed that the bill should not be misused against any community.
Murtaza warned that Clause 35 could undermine existing safeguards for Qadianis. Tarrar responded that the Constitution recognizes the Qadiani as non-Muslims and agreed to remove the clause. Senator Noorul Haq Qadri clarified that PTI and JUI-F had no objections regarding Hindus, Sikhs or Christians, but the Qadiani community remained a sensitive issue. Qadir Patel added: “No law should be enacted that can be misused, and the reckoning will be on the Day of Judgment.”
Opposition leaders, including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, criticized the 27th Constitutional Amendment, saying it did not meet democratic requirements and had created social divisions. He recalled that even under the Bhutto government in 1973, negotiations were held before the amendments were passed.
Read more: Two More Bills to Protect Minority Card Rights
Fazlur Rehman expressed concern about following Western models, saying, “Today we are following the path of Jews and Christians,” calling for the Constitution to be corrected and errors to be reversed.
Raja Nasir Abbas highlighted current human rights challenges in Pakistan and questioned the rushed pace of legislation, while Fazlur Rehman warned that the debate risked reopening old controversies.
