Pakistan safe haven for minorities: Ijaz Alam Augustine.

LAHORE -- Provincial Minister for Human Rights and Minority Rights Ijaz Alam Augustine has said that Pakistan is the safest country for Christians, other minorities and all were enjoying religious freedom and equal rights. In an interview with reporter here on Sunday, he said the minorities were facing worst persecution and were deprived of human rights in India, adding that Indians hurt the feelings of Christians across the globe when they made fun of 'hallelujah' while no such act was possible in Pakistan.

About his achievements, the Minister said Muslim prisoners were granted sentence remission on every eid but this facility was not allowed to the minorities on their religious festivals, adding that he had got the legislation approved after which minority prisoners would get sentence remission on their days of religious importance. "Christian prisoners in all Punjab jails will get sentence remission from the coming Easter and Christmas and it would apply to Hindus, Sikhs and others as well", Augustine claimed. To a question, Human Rights and Minsority Affairs Minister said his priorities for self-aggrandizement of minorities included better higher education, sentence remission, effective control of hate material against minorities, promotion of religious tourism and skill development.

Responding to a query, he said he had managed to get inducted a minority representative in the Punjab Curriculum and Textbook boards to check publication of hate material against minorities, adding that he had increased the number of scholarships for the minority students within a year at the ministry. About his goals, the Minister said he was more and more focused on educating the minorities through best opportunities in the province, adding that it was only through education that deprivations of minority members could be...