This special dispensation has been extended on the grounds that these minorities fled to India to escape persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
By Chanchal Manohar Singh
Chandigarh: India on Tuesday strongly rejected a resolution adopted by the Pakistan National Assembly that criticized the citizenship law and asked new Delhi to revoke its discriminatory clauses. The Ministry of external affairs called the resolution “poorly disguised effort” to divert attention from Pakistan “appalling treatment” and “persecution” of its religious minorities.
This special dispensation has been extended on the grounds that these minorities fled to India to escape persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. In its the resolution, Pakistan’s National Assembly had criticised the law that it stressed was “against international norms of equality and non-discrimination and international human rights law”.
The amendment to the Citizenship Act enables six religious minorities in three countries including Pakistan to get Indian citizenship even if they entered the country illegally. Also, the law lets the government to fast-track grant of citizenship to Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who are waiting for citizenship. The new law has reduced the time for eligibility for citizenship to five years from earlier condition 12 years. Many Hindus families from Sind, Baluchistan, Peshawar and other parts of Pakistan who came to India on visitor visa did not return to Pakistan are waiting for citizenship for the last over 10 to 12 years. To facilitate their citizen cases law have been amended. After, these Pakistani whose visas haven expired must seek extension after every three months. They have to pay for extension fee for the visa. They are also not eligible to open bank accounts and get business registration to start their business. Many of them conduct Laboure and work with relatives in business as a silent partner
This special dispensation has been extended on the grounds that these minorities fled to India to escape persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
In its the resolution, Pakistan’s National Assembly had criticised the law that it stressed was “against international norms of equality and non-discrimination and international human rights law”.
New Delhi responded sharply, underlining that it is laughable that the National Assembly of Pakistan, which has passed discriminatory legislation against religious minorities, should point fingers at others.
India also suggested that Pakistan “engage in serious self-introspection” rather than falsely accuse others of what they themselves are guilty of.
Reminding Islamabad that India is the world’s largest democracy where all Indians enjoy equal rights under the Constitution, the external affairs ministry suggested that Pakistan should “similarly aspire to these ideals”.