ana Patris, a lady constable, sits tall and proud at her desk as she deals with visitors at the newly established Meesaq Centre, an initiative of Punjab Police. The Centre is located at the premises of the Police Khidmat Markaz in Liberty, Lahore.

Patris’s presence is symbolic of women power. But her duty extends far beyond maintaining order; it’s about creating a safe and welcoming space where people from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds can find support in criminal, civil and financial matters. An interesting aspect about Meesaq is that its staff belongs to religious minorities.

Patris tells TNS, “To me, all visitors are equal, but when someone from the minority communities walks in and they are greeted by our staff, they feel an extra level of comfort. This is quite heartening.”

Set up by the Punjab Police in different districts of the province, following the Jaranwala incident, the Meesaq Centres offer assistance to the oppressed and minority communities, and thus promote unity and inclusivity. According to the Punjab Police IG, Dr Usman Anwar, the centres are “committed to values of equality and respect for all faiths.” He says that the centres are operational at both district and sub-divisional levels. They focus on regions with substantial Christian and minority populations.

Referring to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the IGP highlights the significance attached to safeguarding Christian places of worship and their belongings. He asserts his commitment to prevent any harm done to these places. This message, he promises, will be propagated with the help of educational institutions and teachers, community leaders and intellectuals.

elson Nabeel, the owner of a local call centre, was recently in need of police verification for a financial transaction he wished to make with his foreign clients. He had no clue about Meesaq. It was when he was visiting Khidmat Markaz that he was directed to the place.

At Meesaq, Nabeel was welcomed by Patris who “took great care of my request for the police verification report. The process was swift and smooth,” he says.

Asma Noreen, who oversees the workings of Meesaq, says that since it opened in September this year “we have extended support to over a hundred visitors from minority backgrounds.”

While speaking about minorities and interfaith harmony, we “must acknowledge the importance of the insider’s perspective. To ensure this perspective, the Meesaq Centre is managed by those from minority backgrounds.”

In response to a query, Noreen says, “It’s important to understand that our support for local non-Muslims is part of our broader vision to promote interfaith harmony in the country. We’ve been assisting them on a range of issues, from character certificates and driving licenses to police verifications and both criminal and civil cases.”

Typically, the cases are related to family/ domestic issues and property disputes, she adds. “In a few instances, we mediated between parties to a dispute, steering them towards reconciliation rather than lengthy litigation.”

Assistant Superintendent of Police, Gulberg, Shehrbano Naqvi, the person behind Meesaq, says the Jaranwala incident was a dark chapter in the history of the country. “It prompted the Police Department to take proactive measures against crimes targeting minorities. The Meesaq Centres are being established following the model of Meesaq-i-Madina. The idea is to provide a platform to minorities where they can put up their complaints without fear of reaction, and get help too.”

She identifies three core objectives for the establishment of these centres: first, they serve as a designated point for minorities to report crimes and establish a connection with their respective police stations, eliminating the need for repeated visits to police offices. Second, they function as a bridge for minority citizens seeking help in civil matters, particularly those coming from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. The centre may also connect them with non-government organisations for further support, if need arises. Third, Meesaq acts as a platform for proactive information sharing. It welcomes citizens to report any activities that might pose a threat to minorities, allowing for quick intervention.

Naqvi is of the view that while speaking about minorities and interfaith harmony, we “must acknowledge the importance of the insider’s perspective. To ensure this perspective, the Meesaq Centre is managed by those from minority backgrounds.”

The engagement of minorities is clearly Meesaq’s top priority. Plans are afoot to set up a centre in Youhanabad.

Sardar Bishan Singh, a former president of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, welcomes the establishment of Meesaq Centre. “My personal experience is that the police treat us nicely.”

He also says that the major beneficiaries of these centres would be Christians and Ahmadis.

The writer is a media veteran interested in politics, consumer rights and entrepreneurship