{{Short description|Defunct Ministry of the Government of Pakistan}} {{more citations needed|date=March 2011}} {{Politics of Pakistan}} The '''Ministry of Minorities''' used to be a federal-level ministry in the Government of Pakistan. The head of the ministry was known as the '''Minister for Minorities''' and was a member of the federal cabinet.
Until September 2004, the functions of this ministry were carried out by the Minorities Wing of the former Ministry of Minorities, Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs - but it remained underfunded for some time. This changed when it was upgraded to a fully-fledged, independent Ministry of Minorities, founded during the rule of President Pervez Musharraf.<ref>https://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/psru/briefings/archive/Brief37.pdf The Christian Minority in Pakistan: Issues and Options</ref>
In November 2008, the government (then led by the Pakistan People's Party (PPP)) invested in a larger ministry and renamed it the '''Ministry of Minorities Affairs'''. A Christian activist Shahbaz Bhatti was made the minister<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2008/s08110015.htm |title=Pakistan's Shahbaz Bhatti sworn in as Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs |accessdate=2013-08-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130816150824/http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2008/s08110015.htm |archivedate=2013-08-16 }} Pakistan’s Shahbaz Bhatti sworn in as Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs</ref> who served in this position until March 2, 2011, when he was assassinated in Islamabad.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bentham |first=Annabelle |date=2011-03-10 |title=Shahbaz Bhatti obituary |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/10/shahbaz-bhatti-obituary |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>
In July 2011, the Government of Pakistan closed the Minorities Affairs Ministry as part of a decentralization plan that would see powers in this area transferred to the provinces.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2011-06-28 |title=Cabinet approves devolution of seven ministries |url=https://www.dawn.com/2011/06/28/cabinet-approves-devolution-of-seven-ministries/ |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}{{dead link|date=April 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> However, a new ministry was created with almost the same remit but under a different name, the '''Ministry for National Harmony'''. Shahbaz Bhatti's brother, Paul Bhatti, was appointed to lead it, as a "Special Advisor" to the Prime Minister.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ASIA/PAKISTAN - Paul Bhatti appointed "Special Advisor" for Religious Minorities - Agenzia Fides |url=http://www.fides.org/en/news/28649-ASIA_PAKISTAN_Paul_Bhatti_appointed_Special_Advisor_for_Religious_Minorities#.Ug47WNK2M8w |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=www.fides.org}}</ref>
In June 2013, under a newly elected government led by the Pakistan Muslim League (N), the Ministry of National Harmony was merged with a larger ministry, the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Some argue that this weakens minority representation at the highest level.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-06-24|title=Concern over merger of ministries|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1020392/concern-over-merger-of-ministries|access-date=2021-05-08|website=DAWN.COM|language=en}}</ref> Others say it is a positive move to 'mainstream' minority concerns and avoid marginalisation.
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130511073630/http://monh.gov.pk/ Ministry of National Harmony, Pakistan] * [http://www.mora.gov.pk/ Ministry of Religious Affairs, Pakistan]
{{Religion in Pakistan}}
Category:2004 establishments in Pakistan Pakistan, Minorities Minorities
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