Officials told to probe minorities' complaints

Chief executive General Pervez Musharraf has given fresh directives to the law and interior ministries and those in charge of the human rights to immediately address complaints, if any, about lack of protection to minorities, official sources told Gulf News yesterday.

"Let the matter be thoroughly investigated and let there be corrective measures instantly, wherever needed," the chief executive was quoted by circles close to him as directing the concerned ministries. General Musharraf reportedly said that even the isolated instances creating an impression that minorities were under any pressures must be done away with.

Sources said that the next cabinet meeting, tentatively due on Wednesday, would possibly take stock of this situation in detail. Reported incidents of attacks against minorities may be discussed and a more comprehensive strategy devised after a review of the situation.

But, in the meanwhile, authorities have been ordered to dispatch extra police force in sensitive areas to avoid recurrence of incidents that may erroneously create the impression of government's weakness in protecting minorities.

The chief executive's directive is partly in response to some incidents in the past few days wherein members of a minority community faced tough time. Religious sentiment and misunderstandings, intelligence gathered officially shows, were more to blame.

But more importantly, the orders for enhanced security for minorities came after letters were received in the federal capital on behalf of various rights bodies, which not only pointed out certain instances wherein they thought the government could have done more to protect the minorities but also urged the Musharraf regime to take some concrete steps.

Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar pointed out this to the chief executive at a meeting a few days after receiving the letters and expressed the view that the issue needed to be carefully dealt with. Sattar had argued that while in some cases localised effect had led to trouble for the minorities but otherwise, there were a few minor incidents only.