The (ICPH) and (IRF Pakistan) welcomes in principle the passage of the National Commission for Minorities Rights Bill 2025. Ambassador Allama Ahsan Siddiqui
PAKISTAN – The Co-Chair of Pakistan, International Religious Freedom Roundtable for Pakistan (IRF Roundtable Pakistan) and the Chairman, Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony (ICPH), Ambassador at Large for global Peace and Human Rights Imam Allama Muhammad Ahsan Siddiqui has welcomed the passage of the National Commission for Minorities’ Rights Bill 2025, terming it a major milestone in implementing constitutional and international commitments on religious freedom. He called the bill a long-awaited step toward protecting Pakistan’s vulnerable religious communities.
In a Press Statement, the Co-Chair Pakistan, International Religious Freedom Roundtable for Pakistan (IRF Pakistan) and the Chairman, Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony (ICPH), Ambassador at Large for global Peace and Human Rights Imam Allama Muhammad Ahsan Siddiqui said minorities have long lived under the threat of violence, discrimination, and legal inequities. He urged Parliament to pass the bill without delay and ensure its independence from political interference, adding that a strong Commission would enhance justice, accountability, democracy, and Pakistan’s global standing.
Ambassador Imam Allama Muhammad Ahsan Siddiqui said that the Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony (ICPH) and International Religious Freedom Roundtable for Pakistan (IRF Pakistan) congratulated the government of Pakistan and all minority communities, crediting civil society, lawyers, parliamentarians, and the Supreme Court for helping secure a decade-long struggle toward establishing an independent and empowered Commission. He said Independent Commission is the fruit of a decade-long struggle,” he said legislation, passed in compliance with the Supreme Court’s June 19, 2014 judgment and relevant global treaties, will establish a 30-member Commission with 33% mandatory female representation.
The Co-Chair Pakistan, (IRF Pakistan) and the Chairman (ICPH) Ambassador Allama Ahsan Siddiqui said that the bill marks a shift from “ realization to materialization of rights. He noted that the Commission will have financial autonomy, eliminating the need for prior government approval to use its allocated funds. The new body will also have the powers of a civil court to investigate rights violations. He said these measures bring Pakistan closer to fulfilling its obligations under the UDHR and ICCPR.
Ambassador Allama Ahsan Siddiqui said that we intend to review the bill closely but emphasise that the proposed commission must protect all religious minorities equally, without exception or hierarchy. Moreover, its mandate and powers must align strictly with constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion or belief and nondiscrimination for all minority citizens.
