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http://jang.com.pk/thenews/aug2002-daily/29-08-2002/metro/i3.htm ISLAMABAD - Former federal minister and convener of World Minorities Alliance J Salik said on Wednesday the reservation of seats for women and non-Muslims with present mode of elections might be a bonus for political parties rather than empowering weaker segments of the society. In a letter to President Pervez Musharraf, Salik said, "I seek your personal indulgence to a lacuna in the mode of elections to seats reserved for women and minorities". Non-Muslims should be allowed to seek election as independent candidates, he added. He appreciated restoration of joint electorate as envisaged in the original 1973 constitution. But the advantages accruing therefrom have been offset by linking the reserved seats to proportional representation system of political parties lists of candidates on the basis of total number of general seats won by each political party in the National Assembly, he added. Salik said women form half of the country's population yet they are still striving for their empowerment. To place women and minorities purely at the mercy of political parties would make them pawns to be exploited in their confrontational chess game, he added. Salik said for the uplift of minorities it is imperative that they continue to remain above the party divide and muster unanimous support of the entire nation. He said forcing the non-Muslim contestants to align themselves for their election with one political party or another - the religious party or liberal one - will give a jolt to inter-faith solidarity. |
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Code of Conduct >> Press Releases for Political Parties::