ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to introduce a new bill to increase the number of seats for minorities in parliament, in proportion to their population.
The move is expected to enhance representation for minorities in the National Assembly, Senate and provincial assemblies.
If the government succeeds in getting the proposed bill passed in the shape of the 23rd Constitutional Amendment with a two-thirds majority, minorities’ seats would increase from 33 to around 53 in the National and provincial assemblies. The same exercise would also be followed in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
State Minister for National Harmony Akram Masih Gill said there was a strong likelihood that the bill would be passed in the National Assembly and Senate in the session starting from next week.
“We are hopeful about it. Members of minority community should keep their fingers crossed,” Gill told The Express Tribune.
Gill and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Minorities Affairs Dr Paul Bhatti have already given their input to the government for the proposed bill.
Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has assigned Pakistan Peoples Party chief whip in the National Assembly, Syed Khurshid Shah, the task of convincing political parties to get the bill passed with a two-thirds majority in the upcoming sessions.
Non-Muslims represent 4.5 % of the country’s total population of 180 million, according to working papers of both minority leaders. Therefore, the total number of minorities’ seats will increase from 33 to around 53, out of which 16 seats will be added in the NA, 12 in the Punjab Assembly, 13 in the Sindh Assembly and six each in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan assemblies.
Currently, there are 10 minority seats in the NA, nine in the Sindh Assembly, eight in the Punjab Assembly, and three each in K-P Assembly and Balochistan Assembly.
The federal cabinet had already passed this bill in July this year.
Although the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz sees the move as a positive step, it has some reservations given that the government did not consult them before endorsing the newly proposed bill in the federal cabinet.
“Yes, it’s a good move,” said PML-N Senator Syed Zafar Ali Shah. The PML-N is likely to not oppose the bill but its top leadership will prepare a note/output to make the process more democratic, he said.
Regarding legal complications, Shah said if this newly proposed bill is passed with a two-thirds majority, some rules would be observed as two Constitutional Amendments – the 21st Amendment (creation of new provinces) and 22nd Amendment (dual nationality) – are still pending with parliament.
Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid senior leader SM Zafar sees the move as a victory for minorities, who, according to him, are the “true face of Pakistan.”
Senior politicians recalled that parliament saw an increase in minorities’ seats during General Ziaul Haq’s regime, before which only two seats were fixed for minorities. Zia increased reserved seats for minorities from two to 10.
Minorities, for the first time, were given representation in the Senate this year.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2012.
COMMENTS (16)
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Why to increase their seats! Just make them equal citizens of Pakistan and treat them as Pakistanis.
@shoaib:
Are you going to copy India???? Don't you have your own culture, norms and ethics? You always feel satisfied and relieved on your national crimes by quoting examples and practices of others...
What a standard for a nation claiming blau blau
There should be no seperate seats or electoral system for minorities. They are as good or as bad Pakistanis as the rest of us. This is the first step where we go wrong and then prize ourselves to be democratic. What democracy is this anyways? The Muslims in Germany holding citizenship are a minority, but democratically have the same voting rights as all other Germans. And why do we have to compare ourselves with India. India is far ahead of us and please don't forget that.
Another cunning and deceiving declaration:
Are they going to become majority by increased seats, to bea able to protect their rights and lives. Why not punish the culprits for the crimes they are, and have been doling against them? But the fact is government is afraid of the sectarian culprits - see the non-implementation of verdicts on Mumtaz Qadri.
Our vote still doesn't count so when are you guys gonna bring in an ammendment to cater for the right of vote of 4 Million Pakistani individuals
I would support this move, I guess, but it really feels like applying a band aid on a gushing mortal wound. Its no where near enough and drastic measures are needed to deal with the issue of minority rights NOW!
Oh for God sake wake up please ! Let everyone in this country live like a Pakistani. Why have separate seats for MINORITIES ??
Thank You PPP Govt; I owe yo my Vote! More Power
the minority population they are going to represent is killed - Pakistan needs laws implemented for their protection first - judicial system needs to be pro victims - currently it is pro-terrorists.
I guess PPP cant breath unless it passes 1 constitutional ammendment every 6 months... good move but why cant PPP combine all bills in just 1 damn ammendment! 7 ammendments in 5 years! 5 of them being useless!
How many seats increase in Senate of Pakistan?? Not Mention in this article!!!!!!!
Dear Politicians, please first bring the 700 Pakistanis Hindus who are now eligible to get the Indian Nationality. You are completely failed in every department of government.
Dear Pakistanis, please answer why Army owned institutes flourished, produce highly quality products, amazed us with the results, and never failed? Even whenever Pakistan is run by the Army, it flourish.
You so called champion of democracy, including all those elements who were heavily invloved in removal of Musharraf, you have committed a sin. Pakistan can not sustain under democracy, that problem of not only Pakistanis, but whole of Muslim world.
Democractic Countaries: Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Tunis, Egypt, Libya, Yemen.. etc = NO PEACE
Non Democractic and Under Monarchy= Qatar, KSA, Oman, UAE, Bahrain, Jordan = NO VIOLENCE
Is more seats in parliament the solution?? NO!
rather than giving minorities more seats, how about giving them their basic rights first and protecting them and their houses of worship!