Islamabad: May 30, 2011. (PCP) The Election Commission of Pakistan have fixed June 26, 2011, for next date of hearing on petition filed by Michael Javed
for notification of succession on seat vacated in National Assembly of Pakistan after assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian heading Federal Ministry for Minority affairs.
Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities and selected by ruling Pakistan Peoples Party on reserved minorities seats in National Assembly was gunned down by militants in capital city Islamabad on March 2, 2011.
There are 10 reserved seats for minorities in National Assembly of Pakistan which were distributed among religious minorities as: 4 seats for Christians, 4 seats for Hindus, 1 seat for Ahmadi Muslims and 1 seat from Sikh, Parsi and others: The reserved seats were legalized under 8th Amendment in Constitution of Pakistan in 1985, when House was of 235 seats.
The 1985, reservation of seats for minorities empowered minority voters to elect their representation under Separate Electorate which was abolished by President Parvez Musharraf in 2002, and Joint Electorate was imposed to select minority parliamentarians on reserved seats by Muslim political groups in Assembly.
In 2002, National Assembly reserved seats for Muslim Women were raised to 60 from 10 but Minority seats were not raised while Election on these reserved seats was killed by President Musharraf nor raising number of reserved minority seats.
After national general elections of 2008, Shahbaz Bhatti was on top of priority list submitted by Pakistan Peoples Party with Election Commission of Pakistan. According to results of elections 2008, PPP percentage of returned candidates in National Assembly received 4 reserved minority seats in distribution. PPP selected first four from its Priority list in which one Christian Shahbaz Bhatti and Three Hindus wee declared returned candidates.
There was Dr. Khatu Mall Jevan, a Hindu from Sindh on number 5th in priority list while Michael Javed on number 6th and Khalid Gill on number 7th. Dr. Khatu Mall Jevan, a Hindu from Sindh, was proposed on general seats of Pakistan Senate from Sindh province by Pakistan Peoples Party PPP on recommendation of President Asif Ali Zardari, who is Co-Chairperson of PPP and sources claim a friend Dr. Mall
When Shahbaz Bhatti was gunned down in Islamabad on March 2, 2011, Dr. Khatu Mall was serving as Senator in Senate of Pakistan. According to priority list of 2008, by PPP with Election Commission of Pakistan, Michael Javed was ultimate successor on vacant seat of Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti.
To please, Hindus from Sindh, which are on number 3rd in Pakistan after Christians and Muslims, the PPP Chief and President of Pakistan preferred Hindu instead of Christian to fill seat vacated by Shahbaz Bhatti and ordered Dr. Khatu Mall to resign form Senate of Pakistan and claim his 5th number in Priority list for National Assembly of Pakistan to block Michael Javed and Khaild Gill.
Michael Javed challenged notification of Dr. Khatu Mall and filed petition with Election Commission of Pakistan which is receiving delay in decision.
If Dr. Khatu Mall successes on vacant seat of Shahbaz Bhatti then there will be no Christian from Pakistan Peoples Party PPP in National Assembly of Pakistan.
Mr. J Salik have challenged Selection of religious minorities in Supreme Court of Pakistan and prayed for Election instead of Selection on reserved seats for minorities and petition is pending for hearing.
The Pakistan Christian Post PCP conducted polls after challenge of Michael Javed on vacant seat of Shahbaz Bhatti to mark public opinion in which 95% voted for Michael Javed, 4% for Khalid Gill and 1% for Dr. Khatu Mall Jevan.
4,304 voters participated in PCP Polls, which is signal for PPP to not deny right of Michael Javed to be successor on vacant seat of Shahbaz Bhatti in National Assembly of Pakistan.