Pakistan’s Senate has established a dedicated Minority Caucus to protect the rights and promote interfaith cooperation for minority groups. Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani announced the formation on International Minorities Day, following an agreement with the Speaker of the National Assembly. A formal notification has been circulated, and the Speaker will appoint representatives from the National Assembly to join the Senate members.

The caucus was created in response to requests from minority senators, seeking to safeguard their constitutional and legal rights and ensure effective enforcement of relevant legislation. The group will also focus on advancing tolerance, diversity, and interfaith harmony across the nation.

Founding members of the caucus are Senators Danesh Kumar, Khalil Tahir Sandhu, Gurdeep Singh, and Poonjo Mal Bheel. Their inaugural meeting will finalize the caucus’s Terms of Reference, outlining its strategic goals and methods for engaging with governmental bodies, institutions, civil society organizations, and other key parties.

Gillani emphasized his longstanding commitment to empowering women and minorities, citing his work as Prime Minister to integrate marginalized groups into the national fabric. He commended Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s legacy and reaffirmed the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership’s dedication to inclusivity and equality under Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari.

He highlighted efforts to increase job quotas and minority representation in the Senate to rectify historical disparities. A dedicated resolution acknowledging the contributions of minorities to Pakistan’s development will be presented in the upcoming Senate session.

Gillani expressed optimism that the Minority Caucus will act as a powerful advocate for marginalized communities, fostering a more inclusive, tolerant, and peaceful Pakistan.