Civil society organizations have welcomed the government’s progress on the National Commission for Minorities Rights (NCMR) Act, 2025, but warned that the proposed structure could undermine the body’s independence and effectiveness.
In a joint statement, Peter Jacob, Chairperson of the Peoples’ Commission for Minorities Rights, Wajahat Masood, Chairperson of the Centre for Social Justice, and Michelle Chaudhry, Director of the Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Foundation, said the envisaged size of the commission, thirty members, risked weakening its operational viability. They urged the government to align the composition with other national commissions and to ensure balanced representation from the federating units and provincial governments, which are currently proposed to have fourteen members each.
The statement noted that the long-awaited mechanism for safeguarding minority rights must now translate into an empowered institution capable of influencing policy. The signatories said they hoped the new body would involve religious minorities more meaningfully in decision-making processes. While acknowledging that the enactment of the NCMR represented progress, they stressed that its mandate should have been strengthened to mirror that of the National Commission for Human Rights, including powers of suo motu action and greater institutional autonomy.
They also called for a transparent, merit-based appointment process to ensure the selection of individuals with integrity, relevant expertise, and a proven commitment to advancing human rights in Pakistan.
The organizations expressed hope that the government would take all necessary measures to ensure the effective implementation of the Jillani Judgment and address shortcomings relating to the commission’s independence, procedural safeguards, and operational capacity through clear rule-making and adequate resourcing.
Civil society groups reaffirmed their willingness to work constructively with state institutions to support the NCMR’s mandate and advance a more inclusive and pluralistic Pakistan.