Grassroots representation: ‘Repeal local govt amended ordinance’

Archbishop Shaw says the amended ordinance has weakened the marginalised

LAHORE: Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw, the Punjab Catholic Church head, on Monday demanded that the government repeal amendments to the Punjab Local Government Ordinance, 2015.

The archbishop addressed a press conference at the Lahore Press Club along with other minority leaders.

He said the ordinance did not allow voters from minority communities to elect their own representatives. He announced that their organisation would launch a province-wide protest if the government did not meet their demand concerning representation at the local government tier. The archbishop said the goal of any democratic system should be to empower people, especially marginalised groups. He said the amended ordinance had weakened the marginalised segments of society. “Minority communities have been worst affected by the amendment.”

“Representatives of minority communities should raise their voice in the national and provincial assemblies in this regard. If their concerns are not addressed, they should resign,” he said. “The system has only been introduced in the Punjab. Minorities in other provinces can still elect their representatives directly.”

He appealed that the government revisit the policy in the interest of protecting the rights of religious minorities.

Reverend Shahid Miraj asked political parties, the civil society and the media to support the minorities’ leaders in the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2015.