Pakistan: Minorities have no voting rights
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (Worthy News)– The Executive Council of Pakistan’s Christian Congress issued a press release Saturday condemning the upcoming national election because 51 percent of Pakistani women and 18 percent of Pakistan’s population will not be voting for any candidates.
Instead of electing representatives, Pakistan’s minorities will only vote for Muslim men on 272 seats, who in turn will nominate 60 women and 10 minorities to reserved seats on the National Assembly of Pakistan.
PCC President Nazir Bhatti said the election is unconstitutional under Article 226 of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s constitution; the Article directs that every seat in parliament to be filled by secret ballot, not by nomination.
Bhatti said the votes of 20 million Pakistani Christians will only go to Muslim feudal lords, business tycoons and Islamists.
“Religious minorities are pushed out of mainstream politics through these nominations,” said Bhatti.