PK Christians Reject EquaL Rights Claims

Dr. Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress PCC said that 20 million Pakistani Christians are treated as 2nd class citizen in Pakistan and claims made by Acting President of Pakistan Farooq H Naik in a meeting with Swedish Ambassador that minorities in Pakistan are enjoying equal rights are not true. The Article 2 of constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan undermines equal rights to religious minorities in Pakistan. Article 41 (2) and Islamic provisions are contrary to fundamental rights guaranteed in Article 9-21 of constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Moreover, Article 203 D, section 298, 298 B, 295 B and 295 C of PPC, Law of Evidence and Compensation and Hadood Ordinance make Pakistani Christians 2nd or 3rd class citizens in state. Nazir Bhatti said “5% Quota to minorities is not proportional to our population and Mr. Farooq H Naik, Acting President of Pakistan must note complains of Christian youth that this quota of job is being sold by parliamentarians and heavy bribes are demanded by bureaucracy” “Pakistan Christian Congress PCC have always demanded election of Christian parliamentarians not selection by Muslim political groups because selection under Joint Electorate is undemocratic and negation to equal basic rights. In such circumstances, if government of Pakistan awards few seats in Senate of Pakistan, it will be addition in number of seats of Muslim political group nor representation to Christians in Senate” said Nazir Bhatti “We demand dual voting rights that Christian may elect their representatives in National Assembly of Pakistan, Senate of Pakistan and provincial Assemblies and may also vote to candidates of Muslim political groups in respective constituencies“ added Nazir S Bhatti Commenting of formation of separate Minority Ministry by Farooq H Naik, Pakistan Christian Congress President said “Shahbaz Bhatti is powerless Federal Minority Minister and can not walk out of Islamabad without orders of President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Gillani because he is selected by PPP not elected by Christian voters. Shahbaz Bhatti have less authority than any peon of federal secretariats” Dr. Nazir S Bhatt paid homage to Swedish Ambassador in Pakistan Ulrika Sundberg on raising minorities issues in his meeting with President of Pakistan and urged all foreign missions in Pakistan to raise Christian issues with government of Pakistan in their formal meetings. Nazir S Bhatti invited attention of Acting President of Pakistan on violence against Christians on pretext to blasphemy law, killing of 12 years old Christian girl Shazia Bashir, rapes and abduction of Christian women, enforced conversion of Christian girls and false cases of riots against victims of Muslim mob attacks in Korian, Gojra, Bahminwala, Karachi and Gujranwala. “Mr. Acting President ensure justice for 20 million Pakistani Christians and start with justice for Shazia Bashir who was raped and killed in home of one influential Muslim attorney in Lahore and government of Punjab changed medical reports to safe a culprit” said Nazir Bhatti