Pakistani religious minorities criticize recent government initiative

Bangalore, India, July 6 (ENInews)--Christians and other minority leaders in Pakistan have spoken out against the government's move to relegate issues regarding religious minorities to provincial governments in the Muslim-majority nation, instead of dealing with them on a national level.

"This is obviously a major setback to Christians and other religious minorities," said the Rev Maqsood Kamil, spokesperson for the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan (PCP). Kamil was reacting to the government's approval on 28 June to place seven federal ministries, including the Ministry for Religious Minorities, under the control of provincial governments. The move is in accordance with the 18th Amendment to Pakistan's constitution, passed in April.

Pakistan is divided into five provinces with elected provincial governments enjoying limited autonomy.