All Pakistan Minorities Alliance

All Pakistan Minorities Alliance
Public domain · source
Name	All Pakistan Minorities Alliance
Abbreviation	APMA
Formation	2002
Founder	Shahbaz Bhatti
Type	Political advocacy group
Headquarters	Islamabad, Pakistan
Region served	Pakistan
Leader title	President
Leader name	(various)

All Pakistan Minorities Alliance is a Pakistani advocacy organization formed to represent the interests of religious minority communities in Pakistan. Founded amid debates over blasphemy legislation and societal discrimination, the group engaged with political parties, civil society actors, religious leaders, and international institutions to push for legal reforms and protections. It operated through public campaigns, legal interventions, and coalition-building with human rights organizations and diaspora networks.

History

The organization emerged during a period marked by disputes over the Pakistan Penal Code blasphemy provisions and following high-profile cases like the Asia Bibi case, the Shahbaz Bhatti assassination, and the assassination of Salmaan Taseer. Its founding coincided with initiatives by actors such as the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Ministry of Minorities Affairs, and NGOs like Aurat Foundation and Human Rights Watch to address sectarian violence and legal discrimination. The group engaged with international forums including the United Nations Human Rights Council and participated in debates around the Universal Periodic Review and treaties like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Over time, it responded to events such as attacks on Jehovah's Witnesses in Pakistan, sectarian clashes involving Shia Muslims and Sunni Islamists, and legislative proposals linked to Hudood Ordinances and provincial ordinances in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The history of the alliance intersects with the activities of figures from the Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), and civil movements tied to the Lawyers' Movement (Pakistan).

Organization and Leadership

Leadership of the alliance included activists, politicians, and religious minority representatives who engaged with institutions like the Election Commission of Pakistan and provincial assemblies in Sindh and Balochistan. Founders and leaders liaised with personalities connected to the Council of Islamic Ideology debates and interlocutors from parties such as Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. The alliance's structure involved committee members drawn from communities including Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Ahmadis (noting legal and social complexities), Parsis, and Buddhists. It engaged legal counsel from practitioners associated with the Supreme Court of Pakistan and partnered with think tanks like the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency and research centers at universities such as the Lahore University of Management Sciences and Quaid-i-Azam University.

Objectives and Advocacy

The alliance articulated objectives including repeal or reform of clauses in the Pakistan Penal Code associated with blasphemy, protection of religious freedom under constitutional provisions like Article 20 and Article 20A debates, and anti-discrimination measures in employment and education institutions such as the Cadet College Hasan Abdal and public universities. It sought amendments to provincial policies influenced by the Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act debates and to influence legislation processed through the National Assembly of Pakistan and Senate of Pakistan. Advocacy engaged with international mechanisms including submissions to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and collaboration with organizations such as Amnesty International and Open Society Foundations to address extrajudicial punishments and mob violence tied to cases like the Gojra riots.

Activities and Campaigns

The alliance organized public demonstrations, press conferences in Islamabad and Lahore, legal assistance for accused individuals in high-profile cases such as the Shama and Shahzad case and the Kishwar Naheed protests context, and campaigns to encourage minority voter registration with the Election Commission of Pakistan. It convened interfaith dialogues with leaders from the Allama Iqbal Open University theological faculties and held seminars at venues including the Jinnah Convention Centre. The group produced statements on incidents like attacks on Gojra and Joseph Colony riots, sought clemency interventions through appeals to the President of Pakistan, and coordinated with diaspora advocacy in cities such as London, Toronto, and New York to raise awareness with institutions including the European Parliament and United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Relations with Government and Political Parties

The alliance maintained a mix of adversarial and cooperative relations with state bodies, engaging ministers such as those from the Ministry of Human Rights (Pakistan) and legislators across parties including the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and Pakistan Peoples Party. It participated in parliamentary committee hearings and submitted briefs during legislative processes in the National Assembly of Pakistan. Relations varied with provincial administrations in Sindh and Punjab and with law enforcement agencies like the Punjab Police and Federal Investigation Agency (Pakistan). The alliance also interacted with religious institutions including the Wafaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia and conservative groups such as Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan during debates over blasphemy law enforcement.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics from conservative religious parties and some media outlets accused the alliance of aligning with Western NGOs such as Freedom House and international donor agendas linked to the United States Agency for International Development and UK Department for International Development. Accusations included politicization by party actors from the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) or opportunism connected to electoral politics in constituencies like Faisalabad and Karachi. Internal disputes arose over strategy and representation between community leaders from Karachi and activists based in Islamabad, and debates occurred about engagement with organizations like the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs. The assassination of its founder intensified scrutiny, prompting inquiries involving the Federal Investigation Agency (Pakistan) and commentary from figures in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Impact and Legacy

The alliance influenced public discourse on religious freedom, contributed to legal defense in prominent blasphemy-related cases, and fostered networks among civil society groups including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Centre for Social Justice (Pakistan), and international NGOs. Its activities fed into broader reforms debated in the Senate of Pakistan and informed human rights reporting by agencies such as United Nations Human Rights Council rapporteurs and Amnesty International country reports. The legacy includes heightened visibility for minority grievances in parliamentary debates, participation of minorities in electoral processes, and ongoing collaboration among interfaith activists linked to organizations like the Edhi Foundation and Minority Rights Group International.

Category:Human rights organizations based in Pakistan Category:Religious minorities in Pakistan