The National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), a Catholic Church human rights body in Pakistan, brought together about 80 lawyers, civil society representatives, human rights defenders and journalists on August 21 to strengthen cooperation in defending religious freedom and minority rights.
The networking meeting in Lahore focused on building coordinated responses to discrimination, legal marginalization and threats facing religious minorities in Pakistan.
Fr. Bernard Emmanuel, national director of the NCJP, urged participants to use their professional expertise in service of vulnerable communities and to “be salt and light” in society.
Fr. Bernard Emmanuel said lasting change requires courageous and sustained service to people on the margins. He also called for stronger networks among lawyers, journalists, faith leaders and civil society organizations to defend truth, justice and human dignity.
Naeem Yousaf Gill, executive director of the NCJP, outlined the commission’s work and highlighted concerns affecting religious minorities, including discrimination, false blasphemy allegations, attacks on places of worship, restrictions on religious freedom and forced conversions.
Advocate Riaz Anjum, president of the Christian Lawyers Association of Pakistan, called for greater cooperation to secure equal rights and increased representation for minorities in legislative bodies.
Emmanuel Ather, a member of the Provincial Assembly, pledged support for legislation aimed at improving the rights of the Christian community, particularly if civil society groups develop concrete proposals.
Fr. Basharat Siraj, principal of St. Anthony High School and College, urged participants to set aside personal differences and work together for equal rights. He cited St. Francis of Assisi as an example of peacebuilding, reconciliation and social harmony.
The meeting also highlighted challenges faced by minority legal professionals. Advocate Kiran Afzaal of the Christian Lawyers Association of Pakistan spoke about harassment experienced by minority women lawyers and called for greater solidarity and professional support.
Advocate Tahir Bashir of the Center for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) raised concerns about institutional bias that Christian lawyers may encounter when handling minority rights cases, saying such challenges can affect fair trial procedures and access to justice.
Journalists Tariq Siraj Chaudhry, chairperson of The Truth News, and Yousaf Benjamin discussed challenges facing Christian journalists, including difficulties in verifying information and the risks posed by misinformation and unverified social media reports.
Participants discussed mechanisms for expanding pro bono legal services for victims of faith-based discrimination, particularly Christians, as well as stronger media safety networks and digital verification training.
Organizers said the initiative, under the slogan “Together for Justice. Together for Human Dignity,” seeks to unite lawyers, journalists, legislators and human rights defenders in combining legal advocacy, responsible reporting and legislative engagement to protect vulnerable communities and uphold human dignity across Pakistan.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
