A letter from...

Pakistani American Christian Organizations

I am writing this letter to bring up an issue of utmost importance to the religious minorities in Pakistan - the issue of Joint Electorate. Most of you probably don't know that unlike here in the US, religious minorities in Pakistan are not allowed to vote for the Muslim candidates and vice versa. Among four provinces of Pakistan, Christian MNA's (Members of National Assembly) are four in total, Hindus, with a much smaller population than the Christians have also four MNAs. One MNA is for Ahmadies & Parsees, and one for other religions (scheduled castes). Muslim seats are 207. This makes total seats in the National Assembly to be 217.

Out of 4 Christian MNAs, 3 are usually elected from Faisalabad (an uneven distribution), and 1 from Lahore or Gujranwala, all cities being part of the Punjab province. But Christians live in other three provinces too and minority MNAs must serve all of Pakistan, an obvious blunder. If a problem occurs in a distant city like Karachi or Peshawar, the impoverished Christian constituents have to travel all the way to Faisalabad. Even then, they are not sure if this "second class" MNA would be available. And if he is, his ability to impact distant areas, where "First Class" Muslim MNAs hold the constituency, is extremely limited. Such a system ensures that in a dispute between a Christian and a Muslim, the majority Muslim MNAs always prevail.

Why am I calling these MNAs, a first class and a second class, because minority MNAs have testified that they are treated as less valuable members of the government. The attitude is open - since a minority MNA represents only 5% of Pakistan, his contribution is viewed as less important than one who represents the 95% majority. On the other hand, minority people elected in USA, like Nasim Ansari (Councilman of Michigan) and Sagheer Tahir (State representative of New Hampshire) were elected in the open competition, based on their merits and not their background or religion. Honorable Sagheer Tahir represents New Hampshire and not just Pakistani Muslims.

At the time of creation of Pakistan , there was joint electorate system. In 1977, General Zia dropped the minorities from the general elections with a stroke of a pen and later annexed it into the constitution of Pakistan. With that toleration and peaceful coexistence disappeared. It is ironic that my adopted homeland (USA) gives me an equal right to vote here in the general elections, but my own birthland (Pakistan) has legally forbidden my participation in general elections and hence in mainline politics.

What we demand ? The Pakistani American Christian community asks its Pakistani American Muslim brothers and sisters to support our view point of joint electorate in Pakistan. Just as you all are allowed to live freely and exercise your religious and political will without constraints in the US, with all fairness we demand the same rights for our community living in Pakistan. Imagine if the US lawmakers come up with this idea that Muslims in US should hold only four seats in the US Congress and not be allowed to vote for other than those four seats. Would it be fair? Would you accept this segregation or electoral apartheid based on religion?

Looking forward to your understanding, help and support on this issue.

Victor Gill

June 27, 2001.