Explained: What was the Nehru-Liaquat Agreement of 1950,referred to in the CAB debate?

News:Recently,the Home minister has referred to the Nehru-Liaquat Pact during the debate on the Citizenship Amendment Bill(CAB),2019.

Facts:

About Nehru-Liaquat Pact:

• The Nehru-Liaquat Pact also known as the Delhi Pact, was a bilateral agreement signed between India and Pakistan in 1950.
• The pact was signed in order to provide a framework for the treatment of minorities in the two countries.
• The need for such a pact was felt by the minorities in both countries following Partition which was accompanied by massive communal riots.

Features of the Pact:Under the Nehru-Liaquat pact,the two countries agreed upon:

• that the minorities throughout its territory will have complete equality of citizenship, irrespective of religion.
• Members of the minorities shall have equal opportunity with members of the majority community to participate in the public life of their country.
• Minority commissions will also be set up in both the countries
• refugees will be allowed to return to dispose of their property, abducted women and looted property were to be returned, forced conversions were unrecognized.