South Asia Partnership-Pakistan (SAP-PK) urges government to honour minorities' rights obligation

South Asia Partnership-Pakistan (SAP-PK) has reportedly demanded that the government honoured its international commitments guaranteeing religious freedom and other fundamental rights.

Referring to the state's obligations under the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the organisation sought the establishment of commissions on minority rights at national and provincial levels with financial and administrative powers.

According to the Nation, SAP-PK's National Coordinator for Human Rights Fund-III (HRF-III) Hameed Gondal during a press briefing on Saturday demanded of the government to submit its initial report to UN Human Rights Committee and also share with UN Human Rights Council the steps it has taken on the recommendations which it has accepted during Universal Periodic Review in October 2012.

Gondal said that religious minorities were living in the state of fear and persecution in most part of the country, adding that they were unable to exercise their right to expression, assembly, association and thought which were also guaranteed by the constitution of the country.