Faisalabad: Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), in collaboration with the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD), organized a special event at Vision Hall, Faisalabad, to commemorate National Minority Day on the topic of “National Minority Day-11th August: Conference on Human Rights & Democracy; Challenges & Recommendations”. The gathering in person and online, brought together diverse voices from across the country to highlight the persistent challenges faced by religious minorities in Pakistan and to call for tangible reforms promoting religious freedom, equal rights, and justice.  

Centered on the historic speech by Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, delivered on August 11, 1947, the event emphasized the vision of an inclusive and tolerant Pakistan. Speakers underscored the enduring significance of Jinnah’s words:  

“You are free; you are free to go to your temples; you are free to go to your mosques or any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste or creed—that has nothing to do with the business of the state.”  

HRFP reiterated that Jinnah’s speech represents a foundational call for religious tolerance and equal citizenship, principles that remain unrealized for many in Pakistan today. Panelists and speakers called for this vision to be officially enshrined in the Constitution and reflected in government policy and legal frameworks.  

The event was attended by a broad spectrum of participants, including political workers, civil society representatives, human rights defenders, educators, lawyers, women, youth, and other community leaders, all united in their demand for equality and justice.  

Naveed Walter, President of Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), emphasized that Jinnah’s August 11 address is one of the strongest declarations of religious freedom and political inclusion in Pakistan’s history. However, he criticized its selective use by political parties for campaign purposes while failing to implement its core message.  

Naveed Walter also raised concerns over the system of reserved seats for minorities, noting that this often results in political allegiance over community representation. He condemned the continued discrimination, violence, and persecution faced by minorities solely based on their faith.  

Highlighting a series of alarming incidents, Naveed Walter described these as examples of systemic failure to protect minority communities. He cited the recent attacks on minorities, where the individuals and families threatened with deaths, as further evidence of growing impunity.  

“These repeated incidents reflect a grave failure in ensuring justice and protection for minorities,” said Walter. “When perpetrators walk free and the innocent are punished, it emboldens those who misuse blasphemy laws for personal or political gain.”  

He called for urgent, transparent action against those who make false accusations under blasphemy laws and stressed the need for decisive governmental intervention to prevent further mob violence.  

A formal resolution was passed at the event, urging the incorporation of Jinnah’s August 11 speech into the Constitution, particularly his call for the separation of religion from state affairs. The speakers collectively called for human rights and true democratic values promotion and implementation of these ideals at every level of governance.  

Prominent panelists, including Mr. Sohail Emmanuel, Mr. James Lal, Mr. Mr. Ijaz Ghauri, Mr. John Victor, Ms Sadaf Shadman, Ms Nida Naeem, Mr. Saleem Anwar, Ms Bushra Bibi and others spoke of the urgent need for legal reforms to protect minority rights and democracy. They stressed the importance of unity among minority communities and condemned their continued marginalization and exclusion from national discourse.  

HRFP concluded the event with a strong call to action: urging the government and political leadership to uphold constitutional protections for all citizens, to put an end to religiously motivated violence, and to ensure justice is equally applied—regardless of religion or belief.