Minorities demand 3pc seats in National Assembly<br>By Our Staff Reporter

Image

ISLAMABAD, Feb 18: The minorities have demanded three per cent reserved seats in proportionate to their population in the National Assembly.

Talking to a group of journalists here on Monday, the founder President of all Pakistan Buddhist Society and former minorities minister, Raja Tridev Roy, said a minorities commission, headed by a judge of the Supreme Court, should be constituted. The commission should study, examine and investigate the state of minorities and make recommendations to the government for addressing the issues confronting them, he said. Mr Roy said the commission should be empowered like the Ombudsman and be able to take action on violations against the minorities. Replying to a question, if the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) consulted the minority leaders while making recommendations for the minorities, he said, "I am not aware of any minority leader who have been consulted by the NRB." Welcoming the decision of the joint electorate, he said it was a longstanding demand but the government should ensure adequate representation of minorities in the legislature by reserving atleast the minimum number of seats as provided in the 1973 Constitution. If the government fails to reserve seats, it is feared that not even five minority representatives would be present in a parliament of 350 seats, he said. The minority leader said the government should take affirmative action to bring the marginalized sections of the society at par with others. The former minister also said the delimitation of constituencies should take the minority population concentrations into consideration. Inadequate representation of minorities in services, trade, business and politics is creating a sense of deprivation and discrimination among the minorities, he added.

You May Also Like

Image

I Will Not Renounce My Faith’: Christian Man Allegedly Abducted, Tortured and Threatened With Forced Conversion at Gunpoint in Lahore. Report by Sardar Mushtaq Gill

LAHORE, Pakistan:  A Christian man in Lahore was allegedly abducted, physically assaulted and threatened at gunpoint in an attempt to force hi

Image

Justice for Daud: Death of 18-Year-Old Christian Student Sparks Outcry Over Alleged Police Brutality. Report by Sardar Mushtaq Gill

KAHROR PAKKA, LODHRAN, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN: The death of 18-year-old Christian student Daud following an alleged encounter with police has sparked dee

Image

UNASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL: FRANKLIN GRAHAM TO CONVENE ASIAN-PACIFIC CONGRESS ON EVANGELISM WITH 21 SPEAKERS FROM 10 COUNTRIES

 



USA: (BGEA) Church leaders from more than 50 Asian-Pacific countries and territories will be encouraged and equipped to renew thei



"Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" By Nazir S Bhatti

On demand of our readers, I have decided to release E-Book version of "Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" on website of PCP which can also be viewed on website of Pakistan Christian Congress www.pakistanchristiancongress.org . You can read chapter wise by clicking tab on left handside of PDF format of E-Book.

nazirbhattipcc@aol.com , pakistanchristianpost@yahoo.com