Outrage over Pak minister's 'only sanitary work be given to religious minorities' remark

Pakistan Christian Congress president Dr. Nazir S. Bhatti has condemned the statement given by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) nominated chief Pervez Khatak that sanitary workers' job will be given to religious minorities in KPK province.

According to The Lahore Times, Imran Khan led PTI claims of providing social justice in Pakistan irrespective of caste, creed or religion, however, Khatak's statement reflect the contrary as he had said that only sanitary workers' (cleaning drains, streets and roads) job will be given to Christians, Hindus and Schedule castes.

Bhatti said that before formation of Pakistan in 1947, Pushtun were cleaning roads and streets of Peshawar and other cities of NWFP along with schedule caste neither Hindus nor Christians.

The report said that before partition Christians used to run schools and hospitals in KPK province, but after the partition, Muslim majority turned Christians to be second-class citizens and forced them to perform cleaning or sanitary worker jobs.

Bhatt said that in every municipal committee or Municipal Corporation of KPK province, there are 15 percent Muslims who are on the payroll of sanitary workers adding that Khatak failed to see the fact and has hurt feelings of Christians of KPK.

According to the report, Bhatti has urged Christians to stay away from PTI as it may announce separate dress for non-Muslims in KPK as Jamat Islami (JI) an ally party of PTI in government of KPK has demanded separate assembly for women and minorities.

Bhatti further demanded immediate clarification from Imran Khan on Khatak's statement and to announce equal job opportunities for Muslims, Christians and Hindus in the province, the report added.