Toba Tek Singh, Pakistan: July 06, 2012. (Johnson Gill) Dozens of Christian college students, their parents and Christian leaders held a press conference against severe violations of merit to distribute scholarships 2011-2012 by Punjab government among the students of minorities’ communities in Toba Tek Singh. Addressing the press conference, Ashfaq Fateh, a human rights activist said, “Ministry for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs, government of the Punjab invited applications from the regular college/university students belongs to minorities’ communities for the educational year 2011-2012 in March this year. Dozens of Christian students from Tehsil, Toba Tek Singh applied for the scholarships. Local member parliament from ruling party of PMLN recommended students secured 80-85 percent marks in their last exams. However, scholarship winning students from Tehsil Toba Tek Singh have not been properly scrutinized. Students who are regular, poor and secured 80 to 85 percent marks and even granted laptops on merit have been deprived from scholarships” Ayoub Anjum former district Council member and labor leader said, “Violation of rules is a murder of merit that is not a policy of Chief Minister Punjab therefore, CM Main Shahbaz Sharif is urged to take notice of it. The parents of affected students and Christian leaders of Toba Tek Singh are protesting against it” Fr. Simon Khurshid, a Catholic Priest said, “The Church organized a team to motivate and encourage the bright students from rural & urban areas to apply for the scholarships but not a single bright student have been granted scholarship. This kind of response towards Toba Tek Singh has created disappointment among students. Poor students whose parents are trapped in the vicious circle of bonded labor managed with great difficulties to send their children to colleges/universities. The act of the government officials of the concerned department has created a bad name for Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif and his party who is working tirelessly day and night for the common good in the province” Niamat George, Christian PMLN worker said, “Workers are sad and demanding CM to highlight the wolves among the sheep who are defaming the PMLN and its vision” Sadaqat Sardar, Area Coordinator, Caritas-Pakistan, “demanded CM to grant scholarships to the affected students of merit who applied in March 2012 and set up inquiry commission to find out the violations of rules and merit in scholarships for minorities students. Students showed their results and copies of forms submitted to Punjab Government with recommendations made by Main Muhammad Rafiq, MPA. Later, a procession was organized by the students, parents and Christian leaders and social workers.