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ottawa [Canada], Dec 18 (ANI): Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Jolly has responded to a petition from the World Assembly of Sindh Assembly on the Notan Lal case and other human rights issues in Pakistan. Her response follows a parliamentary petition submitted by the World Sindhi Congress (WSC) in Canada on September 21.
In a Facebook post, the World Congress of Faith said Canadian MP Garnett Genuis had submitted a petition to Parliament regarding the Notan Lal case, abuse of blasphemy laws against minorities, kidnapping and forced conversion of young girls to Islam.
In response to the petition, Melanie Jolly said in a statement: “We recognize that these cases of child, early and forced marriage continue to be a problem in Pakistan. The promotion and protection of human rights, including children’s rights , freedom of religion or belief, and freedom of expression, are an integral part of Canada’s foreign policy.”
She further said, “This is also a priority for Canada to engage with Pakistan. The Canadian High Commission in Pakistan understands and works with like-minded countries to focus on the Notan Lal case. The World Sindh Congress expresses its gratitude to Genuis and Joly for their support,” According to the World Congress of Faith.
The World Sindh Congress said in a Facebook post that they will continue to speak out against human rights violations in Sindh, including systematic discrimination against Hindus in Sindh in various international forms.
In presenting the petition to Parliament, Garnett Genuis said: “The petition is about a very serious matter. It concerns the situation in Pakistan, specifically Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. The USCIRF states that blasphemy law has made an alarming contribution to human rights violations … and the overall climate of intolerance towards religious minorities often leads to violence and discrimination.”
He further said, “The petitioner highlights the case of Notan Lal, the owner and principal of Ghotki Private School in Pakistan, who was detained and charged under the blasphemy laws after a student falsely accused him. The petitioner states that the high Proportional profanity targeted minorities such as Ahmadiyya Muslims, Hindus and Christians. The arrest of Notan Lal sparked riots and violent attacks on local Hindu temples.
Garnett Genuis said: “The petitioners also point out that the abduction and forced marriage of women and girls from minority communities, especially Hindu girls from Pakistan’s Sindh province, is part of the visible human rights violations. The petitioners therefore call on the Pakistani government to combat kidnapping and Forced marriage of minority women and girls, condemnation of Notan Lal’s imprisonment and blasphemous laws.” (Ani)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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