Pakistan's Law Minister Advocates for Minority Judges in Higher Judiciary

Pakistan's Law Minister, Azam Nazir Tarar, has called for judges from minority communities to join the country's higher judiciary. Emphasizing religious freedom and minority rights at the Justice A R Cornelius Conference, he also proposed establishing a Minority Rights Commission and reserving quotas for minority law officers.

Pakistan's Law Minister, Azam Nazir Tarar, has championed the inclusion of judges from minority communities in the nation's higher judiciary.

Tarar, speaking at the Justice A R Cornelius Conference on Saturday, underscored the significance of religious freedom and minority rights in Pakistan. He expressed his ambition for the judiciary to reflect these values, as reported by the Express Tribune on Sunday.

The minister pointed out that Pakistan's Constitution pledges complete religious freedom but noted a decline in religious tolerance post-Afghan war. He highlighted ongoing initiatives to establish a Minority Rights Commission and suggested reserving quotas for minority law officers and legal advisors.

Echoing Tarar's sentiments, Supreme Court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah also called for the appointment of minority judges to the higher judiciary. According to 2021 data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Muslims make up 96.47% of the population, followed by Hindus (2.14%), Christians (1.27%), Ahmadi Muslims (0.09%), and others (0.02%).