What's New Introduction text for the Whats New section

Australian Justice Body Supports Pakistan Churches’ Opposition to the Separate Electorate System

10 October 2000
MEDIA RELEASE
 
Australian Justice Body Supports Pakistan Churches’ Opposition to the Separate Electorate System
 
Christian Church leaders in Pakistan are demanding the restoration of the Joint Electorate System that was enshrined in the original Pakistan Constitution of 1973.  In a media release issued by the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ National Commission for Justice and Peace it was reported that they might even consider boycotting the next elections (media release attached).
 
“The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council has been concerned for some time about the Separate Electorate System in Pakistan.  This system was imposed by the military dictator General Zia-Ul-Haq in 1985.  Under this system members of religious minorities, such as Christians, can neither vote for Muslim candidates nor can they stand as candidates in Muslim electorates.  There are separate electorates on the basis of religion.  Muslim voters can only vote for Muslim candidates while non-Muslim voters can only vote for non-Muslim candidates contesting seats reserved for their religious group.  The Constitution provides that 207 seats in the National Assembly are reserved for Muslims and 10 seats are provided for religious minorities (4 for Hindus, 4 for Christians, 1 for Ahmadies and Parees and 1 for other religions)”, explained Bishop William Brennan, Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC).
 
“As Bishop Kevin Manning said when he was Chairman of the ACSJC:
“The system of Separate Electorates appears to have created and reinforced divisions among the citizens of Pakistan encouraging religious bigotry and restricting the voting choices of all citizens, Muslims and members of religious minorities alike.  This system would also appear to violate Article 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees equal rights to all citizens.”
 
“The ACSJC is committed to the promotion of religious tolerance and the freedom of religion and belief for all people everywhere and so we support the struggle of religious minorities in Pakistan for full and equal rights as citizens”, concluded Bishop Brennan.
 
For Further Information:
Bishop William Brennan
Chairman, Australian Catholic Social Justice Council
Tel: 02 6921 5667
 
Ms Sandie Cornish
Chief Executive Officer, Australian Catholic Social Justice Council
Tel 02 9956 5811Mobile 0412 125 222
 
Mr Peter Jacob
Executive Secretary, National Commission for Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan
Email: peterjac@shoa.net

 
Media Release
Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ National Commission for Justice and Peace
 
 
 
Leaders of religious minorities consider boycott of next elections if joint electorate not restored
 
Lahore- Leaders and representatives of mainstream churches, the Catholic Church, Church of Pakistan (four denominations) and the Salvation Army Pakistan discussed thoroughly the new Local Bodies election Plan 2000, presented by the government in a seminar organized by National Commission for Justice & Peace on 30 September 2000 in Lahore. Bishop Alexander John Malik, the Bishop of Lahore, Bishop Samuel Azariah, Bishop of Raiwind, Fr. Emmanuel Yousaf, Administrator Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore, Group Captain (R) Cecil Chaudhry, Mr. Farooq Tariq, General Secretary Labour Party Pakistan and Mr. Peter Jacob, Executive Secretary of the National Commission Spoke to the gathering composed mainly of pastors, priests (Catholic & Protestant) and nuns.
 
Bishop Samuel Robert Azariah said; “religions should not be used as a means of creating division among the people of God. He said “I doubt his / her understanding of the meaning of the religion who does so.” Bishop Alexander John Malik Church of Pakistan bishop of Lahore said that system of Separate Electorate is detrimental to national integration and people would be forced to boycott if the next election was held on the separate basis. Group Captain (R) Cecil Chaudhry called ‘separate electorate’ a system of religious apartheid in the political order of Pakistan. Mr. Farooq Tariq, General Secretary, Labour Party Pakistan called for immediate restoration of the original constitution of 1973 and demanded free and fair election on the basis of adult franchise. He said “ the government has weakened and failed because it bowed to the pressure of the religious extremist parties.”       
 
Fr. Emmauel Yousaf, Administrator of Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore said that the religious minorities contributed to creation and reconstruction of Pakistan and they shall not accept any formula of representation that reduced their status as citizens of Pakistan. “The whole discourse of rights is based on the equality of human beings, the government should clarify if they believed in rights or not. ” he added.  
 
The resolution adopted at the end of the seminar demanded that the separate electorate be abolished and the Joint Electorate system as enshrined in the original constitution of 1973, be restored at all levels of representation, with immediate effect. 
 
1 October, 2000 
Peter Jacob
Executive Secretary