PAKISTAN: Lahore Commission for
Peace and Development and elections
Administrative
elections and voters’ rights: minority groups say “No” to discrimination
on religious grounds
Lahore (Fides Service) - The Lahore Commission for Peace and Development which promotes respect for the rights of minority groups in Pakistan has criticised the government for allowing discrimination in the upcoming elections in August and September with regard to Muslim and non Muslim voters.
The
Commission has called on the government to keep religion and politics
separate and to guarantee the same political rights to all Pakistani
citizens of whatever belief or religion .
The
Commission complains of double standards which penalise
Christians. In fact Christians can only vote for Christian candidates.
The Commission said this is contrary to pluralism and the idea of a
multi-cultural and multi-religious society and called for more liberalisation
and democratisation in electoral laws. It
underscored that separate voting lists only nurture intolerance whereas
lists with candidates of all relgiions build
harmony. For the government this method ensures that Christians are
represented. But for the commission instead it is contrary to a secular
state and curtails the rights of minority groups.
Local elections in
The Lahore Commission for Peace and Development
is an NGO which promotes respect for human rights in general and in
particolar the rights of minority groups.
Its members are Christians and Muslims. The aim of the Commission, which
often works with the Justice and Peace Commission of the Conference
of Catholic Bishops of Pakistan, is to eliminate intolerance and promote
reconciliation, harmony and peace through a network of peaceful organsations and movements.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides