ICV celebrates Pakistan’s National Minority Day annually to honour the services and sacrifices rendered by all religious minorities to their homeland since its independence. Through this event, we join with all citizens of Pakistan, regardless of religion, to recognize the significant role that religious minorities have and continue to play in Pakistan.
The inspiration to mark a national Minority Day was driven by the famous speech of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s address to the Constitutional Assembly on 11 August 1947 where Mr. Jinnah said: “You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State”.Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti was instrumental in designating August 11th as National Minority Day in Pakistan as the first and only Federal Minister for Minorities’ Affairs. Some of his most significant actions as Minister were:
- The launching of a national campaign to promote interfaith harmony
- The introduction of job quotas for religious minorities in government posts
- The reservation of four seats in the Senate of Pakistan for religious minorities
- Designating August 11th as National Minority Day in Pakistan
Press Release: ICV Commemorates Pakistan National Minorities Day 2021
On August 11, 2021, International Christian Voice (ICV) held a virtual event commemorating the National Minorites Day of Pakistan in Canada to acknowledge to highlight the unflinching contribution of the Christian Community in the establishment, nation-building, and progress of Pakistan. Over one hundred participants joined in from Canada and across the globe from the US, UK, Italy, Netherland, Malaysia, Thailand, and Pakistan.
Our guest speakers who graciously honored our community included Federal Member of Parliament Hon. Ruby Sahota (Lib Party), Federal Member of Parliament Hon. Garnet Genus (PC Party shadow minister international development and Human Rights), Ms. Raheel Raza Canadian Journalist and Anti-Racism Activist, Allama Syed Sheryar Abdi an Islamic Scholar, Mohammad Amanullah Human Rights Activist in Australia, Mr. Waqar Gillani Pakistani Journalist Read More ….
ICV Annual Celebration of Minority Day
International Christian Voice hosted and celebrated the annual Pakistan Minority Day, continuing in the footsteps of Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti, to forge interfaith harmony and highlight the role, contributions, sacrifices, hopes and aspirations of the religious minority citizens of Pakistan.
Canadian Members of Parliament, the Mayor of Brampton and Minority faith Members of Parliament from Pakistan graced the occasion.