ISLAMABAD - Minister of State for Interfaith Harmony and Minorities Affairs Akram Masih Gill along with a number of other parliamentarians requested the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to put off the devolution of Ministry of Minorities Affairs, as the same was not part of the defunct Concurrent List. The also presented a joint representation from all the political parties to the Premier that the national character of the minorities should be kept intact during a meeting with latter at Prime Ministers House Friday afternoon. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that Pakistan had not only guaranteed rights of the minorities in the Constitution but also given them representation in the countrys flag as the white portion of Pakistans flag represents minorities of our nation. He said that he considered minorities as his own constituency and would make sure that their rights are protected successfully. The Prime Minister acknowledged the contributions of the people belonging to minorities community for national progress and development. He said that the Quaids speech of Aug 11, 1947 has comprehensively characterised the role of minorities in the national affairs. He added that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had always championed the cause of minorities and took effective measures to preserve the national character of minorities. He further said that his government had taken a number of measures to protect the rights of minorities. Appreciating the concern of the minority community, he said, the government would convene a meeting of legal experts for looking into their representation and take up the issue with the Implementation Commission on 18th Amendment. The parliamentarians thanked the Prime Minister for his keen interest in the uplift scheme for the welfare of the minorities. They said that as the Ministry of Minority Affairs did not fall in the defunct Concurrent List, therefore, it should not be devolved to the provinces, as it would harm interests of the minorities as well as their national character.