Islamabad: The Senate Minority Caucus Committee convened to address significant issues concerning minority rights, recruitment practices within the Islamabad Police, and the preservation of historical religious sites in the federal capital. Under the leadership of Senator Danesh Kumar, the committee expressed dissatisfaction with the Islamabad Police’s recruitment process, emphasizing the need for adherence to the 5 percent minority quota and addressing backlog posts in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines.

According to Senate of Pakistan, the committee also scrutinized urban development matters, receiving updates from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) about recognized and unrecognized Katchi Abadis in Islamabad. The committee called for stringent measures to prevent illegal expansions and investigated compensation discrepancies for displaced residents. Discussions were held on transferring non-functional historical sites, including the 16th-century Rama Mandir, Gurdwara, and Dharamshala in Saidpur Village, to the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) for restoration and reassessment of land value.

The committee addressed the issue of informal settlements, with MNA Naveed Amir emphasizing the need for a considerate policy to provide alternative housing for minority voters residing in Kachi Abadi areas. The CDA was instructed to prevent further illegal expansions and ensure that no illegal religious structures are demolished without appropriate alternatives to avoid offending religious sentiments.

The committee commended the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) for its proactive involvement and announced plans to visit Saidpur Village to examine the historical sites before they are opened to the public. The CDA was tasked with delivering detailed reports on the Dharamshala at Rawal Lake and providing a briefing on minority graveyard allocations in the upcoming meeting. The session was attended by several members of the National Assembly and senior officials from relevant departments.