Islamabad: June 21, 2011. (Modern Tokyo Times) Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) came into power after the elections of February 2008 and for the first time the Ministry for Minority Affairs was established and Shahbaz Bhatti (Christian) became the first Federal Minister for Minority Affairs. It was the first time that a minority member was made a Federal Minister because earlier minority members were given the status of State Ministers. Shahbaz Bhatti had been fighting for equal rights for all the minorities in Pakistan. In September 2010 the PPP announced to decrease the size of the Federal cabinet in order to decrease the financial burden on the Federal government. It was announced that through the 18th amendment several departments would be abolished and that others would be merged or would be transferred to the provinces. It was also announced that the Ministry for Minority Affairs would also be abolished therefore minorities raised their voice against abolishing this department. Shahbaz Bhatti talked to the party leadership and informed them about the concerns of the minority community. PPP also had to face international pressure against depriving the minorities of their rights. Therefore, a promised reform finally came to pass, and not a moment too soon! On 18th February 2011 the largest Federal Cabinet of 73 members was reduced to 23 Federal Ministers and a State Minister…..22 Federal and 1 State minister was based at the Presidency in Islamabad. Ultimately Shahbaz Bhatti survived the re-shuffling of the federal cabinet. He once again took the oath to fight for the equal rights of all minorities in Pakistan. Unfortunately the Federal Minister was assassinated in the early morning on 2nd March 2011 in I-8/3 Sector of Islamabad. This triggered a Country wide wave of protests and aggression against the PPP Government. Once again the status of the Ministry of Minority Affairs became uncertain, the Prime Minister announced that Shahbaz Bhatti’s brother Paul Bhatti would be the advisor to the PM for Minority Affairs. According to the laws of the election commission of Pakistan, if a seat of a Federal Minister becomes vacant the next member(s) on the list is nominated by the party and he or she lawfully becomes the candidate for the minister. In this case there were 3 names, but the PPP violated the rules and made Paul Bhatti the advisor to the PM. According to the constitution, when there is an advisor, then there is no need for a Federal Minister as he or she is entitled to the rights of a Federal Minister. After a leading coalition partner threatened to join the opposition parties, PPP had to make a coalition with PML-Q (Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam). Once again, violating the constitution, the portfolio of the Federal Minister for Minority affairs was given to a member from the PML-Q and Akram Masih Gill became the State Minister. Due to a non-active role of the Minister and pressure from the Minorities the PPP once again thought about abolishing the Ministry for Minority affairs according to the 18th amendment. However, once more a concern was raised by religious minorities because they desired representation within the highest levels of government. On Friday a delegation consisting of a Christian MNA member called Asya Nasir, MPA Prevaiz Rafique, MNA Akram Masih Gill, MPA Khalil Sandhu, human rights activists Rizwan Paul, and Kashif Mazhar called on the Prime Minister to re-think this issue seriously. They submitted a report requesting that the national character of minorities should be kept intact and highlighted the contributions of people belonging to the minorities’ community for national progress and development. The Prime Minister acknowledged the role of the minorities in Pakistan and commented that the leadership has always treated the minorities equally and has raised the voice of the minorities. The Founding members have always taken steps to uplift the minorities in Pakistan. Therefore, the delegation thanked the Prime Minister for his keen interest in uplifting schemes for the welfare of minorities. They pointed out that as the Ministry of Minority Affairs did not fall in the concurrent list but despite this the power shouldn’t be dissolved to the provinces, as this might harm the interests of minorities as well as the national character of Pakistan. (Xavier Patras William is a freelance writer, contributor to Modern Tokyo Times and a human rights activist)