December 10, 2025
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
Civil society leaders and activists from the religious minorities may not be entirely happy about the new National Commission for Minorities Rights (NCMR) Act, 2025. While appreciating the government’s efforts to finally make some progress regarding the Act, there is dissatisfaction and reservation on its composition saying that it may weaken the prospective commission.
These apprehensions were expressed unanimously said in a joint statement by those running the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), including Peter Jacob, Chairperson, Peoples’ Commission for Minorities Rights (PCMR), Wajahat Masood, Chairperson of CSJ, and Michelle Chaudhry, Director of Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Foundation. They said that they were not happy with the viability of the size of the commission (30) and urged the government to keep it consistent with other national commissions and give a balanced representation of the federating units and provincial government (proposed 14 each).
The statement said that this long-awaited and crucial mechanism for the protection and promotion of the rights of the minorities, must now translate into the establishment of an empowered body. The civil society actors hoped that the constitution of NCMR would now entail the inclusion of the religious minorities in the policy-making in the country. While the enactment of the NCMR marks a progress, it is a considered view that the mandate and powers of the Commission would have been more effective and at par with those vested in the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), including the suo moto capacity and autonomy. The statement impressed that the appointment process for members of the Commission ought to be transparent, inclusive, and strictly merit-based, ensuring the selection of individuals with demonstrable integrity, expertise, and commitment to advancing human rights in Pakistan.
Nevertheless, civil society organizations hoped that the Government of Pakistan would take all necessary steps to ensure the effective implementation and enforcement of the Tasadduq Hussain Jillani judgment.
“We trust that the existing limitations regarding the Commission’s independence, procedural robustness, and operational efficacy will be addressed through transparent rule-making, adequate and resourcing,” said the statement. “The CSOs also reaffirm their readiness to engage constructively with relevant actors to support the NCMR in carrying out its mandate and to work toward a rights-respecting, inclusive, and pluralistic Pakistan.