Minorities' representatives reject NMC formation sans act of parliament.

LAHORE -- The minorities representatives and others working for their rights have objected to the creation of 'an ad-hoc committee' approved by the federal cabinet instead of constitution of the National Commission on Minorities (NMC) through an act of parliament, as the government had pledged before the apex court.

'In its submission to the Supreme Court of Pakistan on February 19, 2020, the Ministry for Religious Affairs has noted that the National Commission on Minorities (NCM) will be constituted through an Act of Parliament. However, the cabinet did exactly the opposite by approving the creation of an ad-hoc committee,' said Mr Peter Jacob, Executive Director of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), at a press conference held at the Lahore Press Club on Wednesday.

Mr Jacob is also the chairperson of the Peoples Commission on Minority Rights (PCMR). He is supported by several rights' groups, lawyers, academics and civil society activists in the demand for setting up a commission which is backed by the parliament.

'This is a deliberate aberration from intent of the original judgment in 2014 and pledge made in the court, therefore tantamount to contempt of court,' Mr Jacob maintained.

'We will surely challenge the cabinet decision in the...