4m Minority Voters Set to Shape 2024 Elections

News Desk

Islamabad: Peter Jacob, the Head of the Centre for Social Justice, revealed that an estimated 4 million minority voters are anticipated to actively engage in the upcoming 2024 elections.

Minority Forum Pakistan has launched a campaign led by members of various minority communities across Pakistan and the primary focus is to advocate for resolving the crucial issue of positive inclusion and ensuring equality of rights.

These developments were emphasized during a press conference organized by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and Peoples Commission for Minorities Rights (PCMR) at the National Press Club in Islamabad.

Nabila Feroze Bhatti, a columnist and human rights activist, said, “This campaign is aimed at increasing awareness and strengthening discourse to draw attention to the persistent human rights issues faced by religious minorities, and to galvanize mobilization and carry out advocacy for minorities’ rights around the General Elections 2024.This campaign will contribute to the effective participation of minorities in the electoral process for a brighter future.”

Read More:https://thepenpk.com/christmas-cheer-warms-up-december-chill/

Ch Ashraf Farzand, former councillor, said, “Importantly, this grassroots campaign is sponsored by the common people of Pakistan. Members of the minority community are leveraging social media to express their opinions and muster support for their cause. This campaign follows up on CSJ’s analysis of political party election manifestos in 2022 and their performance over the past 15 years, presented in the study namely, Promises to Keep and Miles to Go.”
Jayaa Jaggi, a human rights defender, said, “After the restoration of joint elections in 2002, minority voters can exercise their right to vote and stand as candidates on an equal footing. Political parties have established minority wings to ensure greater participation in party structures.

Representatives of minorities across Pakistan raising their voices for their rights, become a part of the Banner Campaign #MainBhiPakistanHun #MinoritiesRights #PakMinoritiesForum #Election2024 #ReligiousMinorities pic.twitter.com/McY3Bq9R73

— CSJ Pakistan (@csjpak) December 18, 2023

Additionally, seats have been reserved in elected houses at all levels to facilitate their representation. Despite these strides, issues such as religious intolerance, systematic discrimination, and the structural exclusion of minorities persist. Therefore, this campaign, driven by the slogan “Main Bhi Pakistan Hun,” (I am also Pakistan) focuses on the equality of rights for all.”

The speakers highlighted the following demands for resolving issues faced by religious minorities:

• Incorporate Quaid-e-Azam’s speech on August 11, 1947 in both the Constitution and educational curricula.
• Implement Article 22 (1) of the Constitution to ensure that learning instructions of singular majority religion is not mandatory for religious minorities.
• Enact laws addressing child marriage and preventing forced marriages.
• Establish an autonomous and empowered Commission for Minorities’ Rights at national and provincial levels through proper legislation.
• Establish an independent and empowered committee mandated to implement the verdict of the Supreme Court (Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani) passed on June 19, 2014 for the protection of minorities’ rights.