PCC files petition in IHC for Elections in Local Government elections in Punjab

Image

Islamabad: October 10, 2013. (PCP) Pakistan Christian Congress PCC has filed a Writ Petition Number 3538/13 in Islamabad High Court to challenge Local Government Act 2013 of Punjab government which proposed Selection of Christian Councilors instead of Elections. Mr. Akram Waqar Gill, Chief Organizer of Punjab Pakistan Christian Congress PCC is petitioner while Malik Mohammad Ali Advocate is pleading case of PCC in Islamabad High Court. The Local Government Act 2013 Punjab province abolished Election of Christian Councilors on reserved seats and imposed Selection or Indirect Elections in forthcoming local body elections of Union Councils, Town Councils, Municipal Corporations and Metropolitan Corporations. The Christian voters were electing their councilors with their votes since 1985 which are denied in Local Government Act 2013 and Muslim councilors are empowered to Select Christian Councilors in local government elections in Punjab province of Pakistan. The Local Government Act 2013 also denies any representation of Christians where they do not have 200 votes in any constituency which will decrease more than 1000 council seats in Union Councils and Town Committees. Pakistani Christians were denied elections in National Assembly of Pakistan and Provincial Assemblies with an ordinance of Dictator General Pervez Musharraf in 2000 and Muslim parties in parliament were given power to Select Christians in parliament according their seats. In 18th Amendment, the elected parliament in 2010 provided constitutional protection to Selection system for religious minorities on their reserved seats in parliament. Pakistan Christian Congress PCC has always demanded Elections on reserved seats for minorities in democratic institution instead of Selection system as it Selection system negates Article 226 of Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan which says that every Member of Parliament must be elected through secret ballot. Dr. Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress PCC has congratulated PCC-Punjab leaders to challenge Local Government 2013 in Islamabad High Court that one man one vote principal of democracy may be enjoyed by Christians in Pakistan. The hearing of PCC petition in Islamabad High Court will be on October 11, 2013 and if it is accepted for hearing then it will pave way for Christians to secure their due voting rights in Pakistan.

You May Also Like

Image

A Mother’s Cry: Bring My Son Home — Alleged Forced Conversion of Christian Minor Sagar Masih Raises Alarm in Sheikhupura. Report by Sardar Mushtaq Gill

SHEIKHUPURA, PAKISTAN: “Bring my son home.” Behind these words is the desperate cry of a Christian mother who says she has been separat

Image

An Open Letter to International Bible Societies, Bible Printing Agencies, Bible Distribution Ministries, Christian Missions, and Missionaries

Sardar Mushtaq Gill Calls for a New Standard in Bible Distribution: “A Bible Must Be Read, Not Simply Distributed”



LEAD Minis

Image

HRFP and TFD Hold Consultation to Strengthen Human Rights Documentation, Fact-Finding and Advocacy for the Marginalized!

Faisalabad: Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), in collaboration with the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD), held a consultation meeting in Fai



"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