Faisalabad: Naveed Walter a renowned Human Rights Defender (HRD) and president of Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) received Bishop John Joseph award as a mark of recognition on the occasion of 25th death anniversary of Bishop John Joseph by Catholic Church of Pakistan.

Bishop Indrias Rehmat, Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Faisalabad, Pakistan presented the award as Shield of Honor to Naveed Walter through Program Coordinator of HRFP, Shadman John, in his nonattendance.

The remarkable recognition of Bishop John Joseph award to Naveed Walter has given him on 6th May at the 25th martyrdom anniversary of Bishop John Joseph in the huge public ceremony at Cathedral Church Faisalabad, Pakistan for his continued commitment of human rights. The clergy with people from different fields of life, civil society, political workers, lawyers, media personals, writers and speakers congratulate and highly acknowledged the services of Naveed Walter from the last 29 years.  

The award is an acknowledgement of Naveed Walter's dedication and courageous struggle for making change in the society, target groups and in the situation of victimized individuals although he has been facing a lot of challenges and threats throughout during assistance, raising voice and advocacy efforts. He has addressed on the issues of religious minorities and marginalized groups of Pakistan at national and international forums including United Nations and European Parliament, with tireless struggle on grassroots levels.

Bishop Indrias Rehmat and Fr. Khalid Rashid Asi, National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) a human rights body of Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Pakistan, said that the jury decided and gave the award to Naveed Walter on Bishop John Joseph's 25th death  anniversary for his contribution for the human rights since 1988 when he was a college student. Most importantly, he has been working with Bishop John Joseph being youth leader, leading Christian Students Organization, a group of students raising voice against religious discriminations and hatred to minority students. In 1994 when Naveed Walter formed HRFP to promote and protect human rights with special focus to religious minorities, women and children, till the martyrdom of Bishop John Joseph, they have been working together. HRFP, the organization has had several success stories.

Naveed Walter said that he has been honored with the mark of recognitions on national and international forums including United Nation’s award but the receiving of award from the native city, where he born and raised is an honor and utmost appreciation.

Naveed Walter said, "I feel proud that I was a part of Bishop John Joseph’s revolutionary movements. This is the reason that I also thought Bishop John Joseph should have been living till now as the nation needed him and he should have been working with his mission and purpose because of what Bishop John Joseph has done, not an ordinary work he did. Recognition, Service and Martyrdom are the incredible specialties of Martyr Bishop John Joseph" he added.

During awards ceremony, an inauguration of the book on the sacrifice of Bishop John Joseph entitled "Tera Lahoo Pukarta Hai (Your Blood Calls)” was held in which Naveed Walter and others wrote articles that compiled by Fr. Khalid Rashid Asi.

In the book Naveed Walter wrote an article of topic, "Bishop John Joseph - From Recognition to Martyrdom" that he was known as great religious leader, theologian, teacher, researcher, writer and he had great command on political inside. That was a reason the people from all fields were seen around him. Writing and speaking, organization and movement and helping humanity, public understanding and person recognition were his specialties.

Naveed Walter said further that they are committed with the vision to continue the efforts to make a change in society until the human rights of religious minorities and marginalized groups had restored according to the vision of the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he added.

Naveed Walter has dedicated the Bishop John Joseph award to the martyrs of religiously persecuted in Pakistan, he added more.