Separate constituencies for minorities reserved seats demanded

LAHORE : Speakers at a minorities convention held here Friday expressed their reservations over current system of representation of minorities on reserved seats.

Addressing the convention organised by a social welfare organisation at Lahore Press Club, they demanded urgent reforms to ensure that the democratic rights of minorities are respected and they are awarded their right to elect their representatives of own choice democratically.

Rwadari Tehreek Pakistan suggested that in order to fill the reserved seats for minorities separate constituencies should be declared and minority members of the parliament should be elected through direct elections constituency or division wise with the vote of minority voters. The convention was chaired by human rights defender Saeeda Diep while the speakers included Rwadari Tehreek Pakistan Chairman Samson Salamat, former provincial minister for Human Rights & Minorities Affairs Ijaz Alam Augustine and PTI’s Shoaib Nabi Gill.