Faisalabad: January 23, 2017. (PCP) Chairman Pakistan Minorities Teachers Association PMTA Professor Anjum James Paul in an open letter to Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Nawaz Sharif has demanded representation of religious minorities in Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms. Pakistani Christian scholar Professor Paul said “Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms consists on thirty three (33) Muslim members for drafting bill on Electoral Reforms. There is representation of religious minorities in the National Assembly and the Senate of Pakistan but this is unfortunate that none of them has been considered to be part of such an important committee. Selected women in the parliament have become members of the committee but selected religious minority members have been kept aloof from the mentioned committee” Quoting legislation of 18th Amendment in constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan in which legal protection was adopted on election system for minorities on reserved seats in parliament which imposed by military Dictator General Pervez Musharraf; Professor Anjum Paul said that Poor Members of Parliament belonging to religious minorities could not find any place when Parliamentary Committee was constituted for the 18th amendment and late Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti was Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs at that time and now Mr. Kamran Michael is Federal Minister for Human Rights but could not find any place being a full fledge minister. Recalling comments of PM, Professor Anjum Paul said “you have recently said in one of your speeches in January 2017, “I am the Prime Minister of all Pakistanis.” No doubt, you are the Prime Minister of Pakistan and you have been elected from your constituency by the votes of the Muslims and religious minorities. According to Article 25 (1) of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 “All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law.” It is sometimes said that green color in the flag of Pakistan represents Muslims while white color represents religious minorities but unfortunately most of the times white color in the flag is not considered so important” Here are contents of open letter: Ref.No.PMTA/1-4/17-KPR Dated: January 23, 2017 To Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Prime Minister Pakistan Prime Minister’s Secretariat Islamabad Subject: - REQUEST FOR REPRESENTATION OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL REFORMS Honourable Sir, Greetings and peace from Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA). PMTA would like to draw your kind attention on the subject cited above. Sir, Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms consists on thirty three (33) Muslim members for drafting bill on Electoral Reforms. There is representation of religious minorities in the National Assembly and the Senate of Pakistan but this is unfortunate that none of them has been considered to be part of such an important committee. Selected women in the parliament have become members of the committee but selected religious minority members have been kept aloof from the mentioned committee. Poor Members of Parliament belonging to religious minorities could not find any place when Parliamentary Committee was constituted for the 18th amendment and late Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti was Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs at that time and now Mr. Kamran Michael is Federal Minister for Human Rights but could not find any place being a full fledge minister. Sir, you have recently said in one of your speeches in January 2017, “I am the Prime Minister of all Pakistanis.” No doubt, you are the Prime Minister of Pakistan and you have been elected from your constituency by the votes of the Muslims and religious minorities. According to Article 25 (1) of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 “All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law.” It is sometimes said that green color in the flag of Pakistan represents Muslims while white color represents religious minorities but unfortunately most of the times white color in the flag is not considered so important. There are clouds of distress in the religious minorities of Pakistan. The minority members of the parliament actively play their role being the members of various parliamentary committees but it is unfortunate that sense of segregation and sense of deprivation .has been promoted not only in the minority parliamentarians but in the religious minorities as well. Religious minorities are already marginalized and it is needed to protect minority rights by the state. Sir, It is requested you to kindly make sure of representation from the members of religious minorities in the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms so that they can have their active input in the committee. With best regards. PROF. ANJUM JAMES PAUL CHAIRMAN Copy to; 1. Mr. Mamnoon Hussain, President of Pakistan, President’s House, Islamabad 2. Mr. Mian Raza Rabbani, Chairman, Senate of Pakistan, Islamabad 3. Mr. Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker, National Assembly of Pakistan, Islamabad