- RSS
- Today's Paper
- Subscribe
- beta 2.1
Alerts
Paul Bhatti seeks increased minority quota in assemblies
Minorities will feel secure, strong with more representatives in legislative assemblies, says Dr Paul Bhatti.
Minorities will feel secure, strong with more representatives in legislative assemblies, says Dr Paul Bhatti. DESIGN: FAIZAN DAWOOD
ISLAMABAD: Minister Incharge for National Harmony Dr Paul Bhatti sought more seats for minorities in the Senate, National and Provincial Assemblies, citing an increase in the national population. Bhatti was addressing a seminar titled “To stop forced conversion of religion” arranged by the Ministry of National Harmony.
“Minorities will feel secure and strong with more representatives in legislative assemblies,” he said.
Bhatti told the audience that the government had already reserved four seats in the Senate in light of new amendments introduced to the Constitution after the passage of the 18th Amendment and was also planning to establish a large university for arts and religions in Islamabad, where all religions would be taught with equal respect.
“It will mark our beloved homeland Pakistan as a tolerant and peace loving country on the map of the world,” he said.
The minister also urged the provincial and local governments as well as the Fata administration to encourage employment of minority individuals in all public and private sectors.
“I know that the youth of our minorities are also ambitious and want to join our valiant defence forces. I will give my proposals at appropriate forum in this regard,” said Bhatti.
Correction: An earlier version of the article stated that the government is likely to allocate quota for minorities, but instead Paul Bhatti had called for an increase in the existing quota. The article has been revised for corrections.
Reader Comments (13)
Pakistan Latest Stories
Chinese engineers escape Karachi bomb ahead of Premier Li's arrival in Pakistan
Bomb explodes near the seafront in Karachu, but no one was hurt.
Call for recount: Tareen demands recount of votes in 25 constituencies
PTI candidate Jehangir Tareen says the ECP demanding money for verifying every vote is unfair.
Pakistan elections 2013 total voter turnout: 55%
The PML-N got the majority of total votes, followed by PTI and the PPP.
Petition filed against Altaf Hussain in LHC
MQM Chief's speech was anti-state and amounts to treason, petitioner claims.
Punjab Assembly session to convene on May 29
A notification in this respect is expected to be issued within next two days.
Re-polling in Bannu, South Waziristan comes to an end
The process of counting the votes is now underway.
Six JF-17's to escort Chinese PM into Pakistan
The JF-17s -- a symbol of deep Sino-Pakistan friendship – will guide the special Air China Boeing 747 aircraft.
Hottie of the week: Imran Abbas
This doe-eyed cutie is the reason Pakistani women have stopped going out on Saturday nights.
CIA will continue drone operations in Pakistan for now: Sources
The US administration's goal would be to transfer the Pakistan drone operations to the military, says official.
Naegleria: KWSB lacks ability to chlorinate water in city outskirts
KWSB says it can't chlorinate water in city outskirts, where most cases of the amoebic infection have been reported.
Recent Slideshows
More in Pakistan
NATO invites Pakistan to Chicago summit
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or derived from.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted © 2013 The Express Tribune News Network.
Technical feedback? [email protected]
Don’t we already have quota for minorities o_O ?
Recommend
If not wiped out.allow them to live honourably.
Recommend
Was Hafeez Saeed consulted???
Recommend
It will mark our beloved homeland Pakistan as a tolerant and peace loving country on the map of the world.
Recommend
A very very nice move. But to be very honest our constitution will remain biased as no Non Muslim can ever become a Prime minister or President of our country. Take the example of India where we have seen a Muslim President Abdul Kalam but we can never see a Non Muslim to be on the top position in our country according to our constitution. I have a question to my fellow Pakistanis that if you have would have a choice to choose between a Truthful Jew and deceitful Muslim what would you select. A Jew or a Muslim?????????. I will select a Truthful Jew compared to a Muslim in this case.
So we will remain biased as our constitution is not meant for all Pakistanis but it is only for One majority.
Recommend
Why do we call them minorities at first ??? I am unable to comprehend the idea of allocating certain quota to these people. At the end they are Pakistanis!!!
Recommend
Nice Move, but minority problems will not be solved untill the reserved seat members are also elected.
Recommend
@Sam: our freedom from India was only gained after we were not given safeguards such as quotas in the seats. as most of the Muslim community would be biased while voting , preferring Muslims over non Muslims, they must be given seperate electorates and reserved seats so that they may all be represented in the parliament !
Recommend
@ Zahid Gishkori:–
Please read Article 51(6) of Constitution. Seats are already reserved in Pakistan for minorities since begining of Constitution.
Do not write articles which are not based on facts or without proper research. It is a common knowledge that minorities has reserved seats.
Recommend
@ Zahid Gishkori:–
Article 51(3) specifies Natioanl Assemble seats province/territory allocation, and section 51(4) i squoted below:
(4) In addition to the number of seats referred to in clause (3), there shall be, in the National Assembly, ten seats reserved for non-Muslims.
Article 106(1) specifies reserved seats for minorities in provincial assemblies.
Most of people here are commenting without having any knowledge of the subject. When such news comes from a known source most of people do not bother to know if it is right or wrong.
Recommend
Increase in number of seats based on increase in population, strange! When it comes to the alleged persecution being committed to the minorities in this country it is made a very strong point that because of this so called inhuman treatment, population of the minorities is decreasing in Pakistan.
@Ahmed:
Thank you for completing the incomplete report of Mr. Zahid Gishkori.
Recommend
All join hands in making the system where justice prevails. No need of quota. Myself am from minority community.
Recommend
The minorities already have an adequate quota. Perhaps minority representatives like you should also try to do some tangible work like consolidating and empowering the beleaguered Christian community in Punjab by being vocal about it in media and stop demanding more seats for your relatives to enjoy.
Recommend