Pakistans religious minorities gain representation in senate

Religious minorities have won a small victory after the national assembly passed a historic motion earlier in the month securing their representation in the Pakistani senate.

Under the 18th amendment, there will now be four reserved seats for religious minorities in the senate, in addition to the existing 100 seats. It means that each of Pakistan’s four provinces will have its own non-Muslim representative in Parliament.

The amendment was moved by Raza Rabbani, chairman of the parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms, despite none of the 23 party representatives present for the vote being from a religious minority.

Although there was some disappointment that the voting committee failed to include any measures on the controversial blasphemy law, Christians are nonetheless delighted that they will finally have representation in the senate, after years of campaigning.

CLAAS hopes there will be at least two Christian senators. It said this would be good news for Christians as well as organisations that have campaigned for greater representation of Christians in the senate.

Other important amendments passed by the voting committee included stripping the President of his powers to dismiss the assembly and forming a judicial commission to oversee the appointment of judges.