Ms. Buwalda talked about the plight of Christians, Ahmadis and Shias in Pakistan and impact of blasphemy law on these communities. She stressed that failure to protect the minorities impacts the democratic values of the society.
Source/Credit: The News | Pakistan
By The News | March 20, 2013
GENEVA: Pakistan's main political parties including the PML-N, PPP and MQM have been criticised for negotiating with the banned militant outfits to gain vote bank as such practices damage the social fabric and provide leverage to anti-minority forces.
World Environment and Resource Council arranged an event titled "Pakistan Election Year: Democracy, Extremism and Minority Rights" at the United Nations Human Rights Council during the 22nd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, which will end on March 22, 2013.
Senge Sering, President of Washington based Institute for Gilgit-Baltistan Studies chaired the event. Keynote speakers were Ann Buwalda, Executive Director of the Jubilee Campaign, Washington DC; Mir Mehran Baloch, representative of the Baloch nation at the UN and the European Parliament; Abdul Hamid Khan, Chairperson of Balawaristan National Front; and Mumtaz Khan, Executive Director of Center for Peace and Democracy, Canada.
They shared views on voters' attitude in the upcoming election, Gilgit-Baltistan situation, growing extremism, militant activity and target killings in Pakistan and its impact on upcoming electoral process, religious freedom, rights of the minorities, and the role of the military in the continuity of the democratic process.
Ms. Buwalda talked about the plight of Christians, Ahmadis and Shias in Pakistan and impact of blasphemy law on these communities. She stressed that failure to protect the minorities impacts the democratic values of the society. She emphasized upon improving judicial system and promoting rule of law, democracy and good governance in Pakistan, which will bring a sense of security among the minorities. She asked the civil society to play a positive role in promoting democracy by returning progressive candidates to the parliament.
Mumtaz Khan stressed on discouraging militancy and extremism in Pakistan. He said that growing anarchy provides military an excuse to derail the electoral process, which might lead to introduction of the Bangladesh model in Pakistan.
Senge Sering stated that Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) and its secular allies ruled the country for five years and they had an opportunity to serve the masses but failed. This will impact the attitudes of the voters and provides an opportunity to the conservative parties to gain grounds.
He said that educated and liberal voters must come out en masse to bring progressive candidates in power to defeat growing extremism and interference in Afghanistan. He criticized political parties including PML-N, PPP and MQM for negotiating with the banned militant outfits to gain vote bank as such practices damage the social fabric and provide leverage to anti-minority forces.
He suggested to the Election Commission to ban anti-minority parties from canvassing in the society. He also asked the Election Commission to define minimum threshold percentage of votes for the political parties so a genuine democratic process could be encouraged.
Mehran Marri Baloch asked the United Nations to take serious notice of Shia and Baloch killings in Balochistan and accused the government of establishing militant camps and supporting target killings and abductions of Baloch in the disputed province. He stressed upon the international community to support secular forces in Balochistan as the people of Balochistan have lost faith in the electoral system
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