RAWALPINDI: President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto said here today [April 26] that the safeguards provided in the new Constitution for the rights of the minority communities would be implemented in `letter and spirit`. He was inaugurating a one-day Minorities Conference at a colourful ceremony held at a local hotel.

The President said it was his resolve that the minorities in Pakistan should be treated with trust, tolerance and magnanimity.

They should neither be underprivileged nor over-privileged, he said. The President said the minorities in Pakistan would be afforded full opportunities to progress in all spheres of life without any discrimination.

The new Constitution, the President said, has guaranteed adequate safeguards to the minorities and ensured their rights as equal citizens of the country. The Constitution has also provided for their representation to the Provincial Assemblies for the first time. The President said whereas the new Constitution has ensured equality for the minorities, it places no special obligations on them. The only obligation was loyalty to the Republic as was in case of all other citizens. ... Mr.

Bhutto said the minorities in Pakistan shared a common social and cultural heritage. News agencies