The National Assembly’s Standing Committee for Law and Justice on Monday rejected the proposed bill for allocation of special seats for special people.
A meeting of the committee, chaired by Mahmood Bashir Virk, deliberated over the bill tabled by Kishwara Zahra, in which it was said that the special persons were denied their due rights of representation and quota for official jobs, despite being 10 percent of total population.
The bill fully endorsed by PTI and MQM, was opposed by PML-N, PPP, JUI-F and others on the grounds that approval of the bill will usher in a flow of demands by other fraternities, dividing the society on whole. The bill was ultimately rejected by majority vote.
The other bill tabled by Dr Ramesh Kumar was critical of the fact that despite an increase in the National Assembly seats during 2002, the allocation for minorities was not increased proportionally; while also being critical over what he claimed about current selection of minority leaders by polity according to the policy of favoritism; while also demanded non-Muslims’ right for dual voting, like the one granted to Kashmiri citizens. He also wanted delimitations for minority leaders, from whence they could contest elections independently.
The committee’s unanimous opinion was that since no census had been carried out in the country, it was difficult to determine exact delimitation and their exact numbers in Country; besides the bill had failed to pinpoint the exact basis required for such demanded delimitation.
Virk was of the opinion that wherein the 17th Amendment had increased the NA constituencies, the quota for minorities should also have been increased proportionally; while this particular bill could also be added to review of numerous other bills regarding issues of separate electorates for minorities and dual voting system.
The body members opined that the issue of voting for minorities should be decided along with other bills, without any further delay; while adjourning any further review until the next committee session.
