Spokesman Report
ISLAMABAD: The Minorities Alliance Pakistan, alongside representatives of several minority rights organizations, has called on the Government of Pakistan to introduce sweeping constitutional reforms aimed at strengthening protections for religious minorities, women, and minors in the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club in Islamabad, MAP Chairman Akmal Bhatti said Pakistan could not claim to be a truly pluralistic democracy while constitutional provisions continued to exclude non-Muslims from the country’s highest offices, limit direct democratic representation for minority communities, and fail to adequately protect children from forced conversion and child marriage.
“The time for symbolic gestures is over. What is needed now are structural reforms that guarantee equality before the law and equal opportunity for all citizens,” Bhatti stated.
The reform package presented by MAP includes proposals to prohibit the religious conversion of any person under the age of 18 without free and informed consent recorded before a judicial magistrate. The organization also called for amendments to Articles 41(2) and 91(3) of the Constitution to remove religious qualifications for the offices of President and Prime Minister.
In addition, MAP urged lawmakers to amend Articles 51 and 106 to introduce direct elections for seats reserved for non-Muslims and women in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies. The organization further proposed a constitutional guarantee of a minimum five percent quota for religious minorities in federal and provincial government services and public educational institutions through amendments to Article 27.
MAP representatives argued that the proposals are fully consistent with Articles 20, 25, 35, 36, and 37 of Pakistan’s Constitution, as well as the country’s obligations under international human rights treaties, including the ICCPR, CRC, and CEDAW. They also stressed that the proposed reforms would not place a significant additional financial burden on the state and could be implemented through existing institutions and legal frameworks.
Among those addressing the press conference were Rawadari Tehreek Chairman Samson Salamat, Pakistan Minorities Alliance Chairman and former Punjab MPA Tahir Naveed Chaudhry, and Minorities Rights Movement President Robin Daniel.
International minority rights activist Joseph Janssen strongly welcomed the initiative, calling it “a significant and necessary step toward strengthening constitutional equality and protecting vulnerable communities in Pakistan.” He said he “welcomes this initiative by the Minorities Alliance Pakistan,” describing it as a serious and constructive effort to address long-standing human rights concerns affecting religious minorities, women, and children.
Janssen further stated that the proposed reforms represent “an important opportunity to move toward genuine equality of citizenship under the law,” particularly highlighting protections against forced conversion of minors and the introduction of direct democratic representation for minority communities.
He also noted that strengthening such legal and constitutional safeguards would be consistent with Pakistan’s international commitments, including its obligations under the EU’s GSP+ trade scheme, which requires effective implementation of core human rights conventions such as the ICCPR, CRC, CEDAW, and others.
“Pakistan’s continued progress under frameworks like GSP+ depends on meaningful and measurable improvements in human rights protection. These reforms, if implemented, would send a strong signal of compliance and commitment to international standards,” Janssen added.
Janssen emphasized that Pakistan should prioritize comprehensive reforms to eliminate child marriage by strengthening legal protections and enforcing strict age verification mechanisms before any marriage is registered.
According to him, authorities should require verified documentary proof of age, including CNICs, NADRA-issued birth certificates, and other officially recognized records. In cases where documentary evidence is unavailable or disputed, courts should order medical examinations conducted by government-appointed Medical Boards under procedures that protect the dignity and privacy of the child. Any uncertainty in age determination should be interpreted in favor of treating the individual as a child.
“These measures would represent a meaningful shift toward aligning Pakistan’s legal framework with international human rights standards and ensuring greater protection for vulnerable children,” he said.
MAP also urged the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms to hold broad public consultations with minority communities, legal experts, and civil society organizations before finalizing the constitutional amendment package.
“Constitutional reform without the voices of those most affected will only deepen alienation,” Bhatti warned.
The proposed reforms are expected to generate significant political and public debate as Pakistan moves toward consideration of the 28th Constitutional Amendment Bill.
