Karachi citizens march for minority rights

KARACHI: Karachi’s historic Frere Hall witnessed a spirited gathering as scores of individuals from various religious minority groups convened for a Minority Rights March on Friday.

Reports said the marchers carried banners, placards, and images voicing their demands with passion. A prominent banner read, “End abductions, harassment, forced marriages, and rape of women and girls of religious minorities,” echoing the urgent need for action.

Karachi marches for climate justice

Protesters emphasized putting an end to forced conversions, a longstanding concern among minority communities. They called for legislation criminalising such conversions and urged the removal of discriminatory provisions in the Constitution, ensuring equal opportunities for minority citizens in national leadership roles.

Property rights also took center stage, with appeals for the return of unjustly taken properties to religious minorities. The march united a diverse array of participants, including Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, and others, who collectively raised their voices for their shared concerns.

Notable figures, including Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and Zulfikar Bhutto junior, along with political and civil society activists, were reportedly present at the event.

Speakers like Sheema Kirmani and Pastor Ghazal Shafiq amplified the call for addressing the demands and concerns of minority groups nationwide.

Late night police encounters in Karachi lead to multiple arrests