Provincial Minister for Minorities and Human Rights Khlail Tahir Sandhu said that the Punjab government will adopt co-ordinated strategy with consultation of all the concerned stakeholders regarding increase in the seats of minorities in the provincial assembly as well as welfare and solution of their problems through Minorities Rights Commission Punjab Bill.
He stated this in an advocacy seminar organised by National Minority Rights Network (NMRN) regarding electoral reforms and Minorities Rights Commission Punjab Bill on Thursday. American Consulate for Human Rights Robert Crimson, members parliament from opposition and government including Shehzad Munshi, Kanji Ram, Dr Farzana, Saadia Sohail Rana, Joice Rophen Juiceless, Father Frances Gulzar, pastor Shahid Meraj, religious leaders and representatives from different NGOs and civil society participated in the seminar.
The Minister said that minorities have played a pivotal role in the creation and development of Pakistan. He said that it has become pertinent to increase the special seats of minorities in the provincial assembly in accordance with the exact facts and figures regarding minority population so that they could be provided better facilities and legislation regarding protection of their rights could be made.
MPAs Shehzad Munshi, Saadia Sohail Rana and religious leaders from minorities stressed upon the need to increase special seats of minorities through electoral reforms as population has increased during the last few decades
Convener NMRN Sajid Christopher said that the number of seats for parliamentarians was increased in Musharaf tenure last time for national and provincial assembly, however, no such increase has been made for the minorities' parliamentarians since 1985. He said due to less representation of minorities in both provincial and national assembly, the measures taken for redressal of grievances of the minorities and their welfare are insufficient.
MPA Shehzad Munshi, who has presented the bill for Minorities Rights Commission in Punjab Assembly, said that all members of the assembly are agreed to approve this important bill. He said there were 33 members of parliament from Muslims community in the committee to consider different proposals for electoral reforms in the national level committee, however; no representation from the minorities has been included in this important committee. He stressed upon the need to pass the Minorities Rights Commission Punjab Bill as it has already been passed in Sindh and KPK.