Pakistan: Unfair Voter Lists | Plea to CJ for Notice and Action

First, it was the separate electorate, and Ahmedis, considering it against their conscience, did not get themselves registered as non-believers. Later the system was changed to joint electorate but still Ahmadis were kept away from its ambit.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: Daily Dawn | Pakistan | Letter
By Jamil Ahmad Butt | February 3, 2012

THE Supreme Court has once again emphasized the need for a correct voters’ list to safeguard the right to vote of the citizens of Pakistan.

This concern is even being extended to overseas Pakistanis’ right to vote. There cannot be two opinions on these good intentions. But I wonder why no body — the independent judiciary, the Election Commission of Pakistan, the media, civil society or human right activists — is showing any concern on the mode of preparation of voters’ list which aims at disallowing the right of vote to Ahmedis in Pakistan for a long time.

First, it was the separate electorate, and Ahmedis, considering it against their conscience, did not get themselves registered as non-believers. Later the system was changed to joint electorate but still Ahmadis were kept away from its ambit.

Now there are two voter lists. One, which includes all: Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Bahais, and others, and another which only lists Ahmedis. This regulation is discriminatory.

Will the apex court take notice of this gross injustice and order rectification of voter lists on this account as well?

JAMIL AHMAD BUTT
Karachi

Read original post here: Voter lists: plea to CJFrom the Newspaper | Letters |