Prescribes sentences of up to five years in prison and fines for those found guilty
LAHORE:
A private bill aimed at strengthening legal protection for religious minorities, proposing measures against forced conversions, forced marriages and discrimination, was introduced in the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday.
The Punjab Protection of Religious Minorities Rights Bill, 2026 was introduced by Falbous Christopher, Chairman, Standing Committee on Minority Affairs. The proposed legislation sought to criminalize forced conversion, prescribing penalties of up to five years in prison and fines for people found guilty of coercion, threats or undue influence.
Under the draft, courts would be empowered to intervene in forced marriage cases involving minority people, including issuing protection orders. The bill also prohibited discrimination based on religion in education, employment, access to public spaces, and the provision of services.
Additionally, the legislation called for the protection of places of worship and religious properties of minorities, while recommending a review of educational curricula to eliminate content that promotes hatred, intolerance or discrimination.
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Commenting on the development, Shahid Rehmat, CEO of Youth Development Foundation, said the bill represented a significant step towards institutionalizing the protection of minorities.
He noted that effective implementation, institutional coordination and safeguards for vulnerable groups, particularly women and girls, would be critical to its success.
Separately, Senator Khalil Tahir Sandhu said the legislation reflected constitutional guarantees of equality and protection for all citizens. He described the move to address forced conversions through a legal framework as a necessary and long-awaited step.
If passed, the bill is expected to provide a comprehensive legal framework aimed at strengthening the protection of minority communities and promoting equality, inclusion and the rule of law in the province.
