The International Institute for Mohajirs organized a conference on the plight of Mohajirs in Pakistan, on the sidelines of the 33rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on September 23, 2016. Speakers at the conference included Ryszard Czarnecki, Vice President European Parliament, Mohammad Khan, human rights activist from Karachi and Arbaz Khan, President, European Mohajir Network.
Mohammad Khan, while updating the audience on the current human rights situation in Pakistan and problems being faced by the Mohajirs, stated that the Pakistani government continued to ostracize the Mohajirs and through various laws, ensure that members of the community continued to remain ‘outsiders’ in the country that they had chosen to adopt after the formation of Pakistan in 1947. He appealed to the UN to put pressure on the Pakistani government to improve the situation of Mohajirs in the country.
Arbaz Khan, in his speech stated that despite the contributions of Mohajirs to Pakistani culture and society, the Mojahir community was discriminated against and their rights regularly violated. He acussed the Pakistani government of sponsoring intolerance and hatred against the Mojahirs and deploying various forms of discrimination against them. He concluded by stating that Mohajirs were peace loving people and only wanted to be recognised for their contributions, provided with security, honour and employment.
Ryszard Czarnecki in his comments stated that though the issue of the Mohajirs had not been raised in the European Parliament, he thought that it was a serious human rights issue in Pakistan and the time was right for the European Union to take note of this problem.
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