Constitution of Pakistan under Article 20, guarantees the right to religious freedom of all citizens in the country. The protection of this right is the prior responsibility of all state institutions especially in the month of Muharram when the Shia community observes their religious rituals.
It is the sheer violation of the constitution that state institutions, on the behest of opponents, file unjustified, fabricated cases on mourners in the name of security measures.
Ministry of Human Rights has sent attention calls on this serious issue to the Interior Minister, IGs and Chief Secretaries of all the provinces with the words that there should be no obstacle in the performance of religious rituals of any religious party or sect. Misuse of 4th Schedule for the religious persecution of participants of Izah Dari Majalis is totally illegal and unconstitutional especially in the province of Punjab where many such sad incidents have been reported earlier. If such incidents happen again, I will be forced to take strict action as a Minister for Human Rights.
