TIME TO WOO THE MINORITIES

Pakistan´s Electoral Reforms Committee has submitted a report that proposes a major change in the polling system. It would restore the right of dual vote to the country´s religious minorities, allowing them to cast ballots in the national and provincial assemblies as well as for reserved seats for minority candidates in the assemblies..Even though the final draft is not in, the report has been accepted by the federal cabinet. As expected, the action sparked immediate protest from the main opposition and the religious parties..Non-Muslims form about 3.5 percent of Pakistan´s 130 million population. Allowing them to vote for Muslim as well as non-Muslim candidates would be the first step toward removing the separate electorate system imposed in 1985 by Gen Ziaul Haq. Under the general´s writ, non-Muslims were restricted to voting separately for a designated number of non-Muslim seats, and they were barred from contesting elections for (Muslim) national or provincial assembly seats..The result had been to effectively marginalise the non-Muslim population, as the parties no longer had to woo them. The few non-Muslim representatives that were elected could do little to influence policies or legislation. The restricted voting system became the basis for growing discrimination against the country´s religious minorities. These included, for example, the increasing use of the so-called "blasphemy law", also the late dictator´s doing..Section 295-C of the Constitution provides for capital punishment for anyone found guilty of disrespect toward the Prophet Mohammad. Although it applies to all Pakistanis, non-Muslims have been the most affected — the most well-known case being that of the 14-year-old Salamat Masih, who was finally acquitted by the Lahore High Court last year..The Electoral Reform Committee´s proposal still maintains a separation, but it can be seen as a step to bring minorities into political reckoning. The reason the proposal has been slammed by the political and religious opposition is that the non-Muslim vote has traditionally swung in favour of the Bhuttos´ Pakistan People´s Party. They have called the move a "cheap political stunt" to pad the PPP´s vote bank in preparation for the 1997 general elections..Human rights activists are of the view that, no matter who stands to benefit, it is high time that the joint electorate system was restored. Whether or not politically motivated, the changes will reduce human rights violations. Powerful people will have to be more careful not to irritate the religious minorities in their constituencies, particularly where the minority votes might turn the balance. According to analysts, the minority vote could prove decisive in 20-25 percent of the present National Assembly, which would give them considerable clout..The government has, before this, attempted to make changes to the procedures relating to Section 295-C, which would have made ´blasphemy´ cases more difficult to register, and false accusations punishable. However, Ms Bhutto was forced to beat a hasty retreat in the face of an emotionally charged reaction by the right-wing religious parties, supported by the Nawaz Sharif-led opposition..At present, there is some support within Mr Sharifs own Pakistan Muslim League for the proposed electoral changes. In fact, the changes are actually the result of suggestions originally made by PML-N leaders who were formerly with the PPP, and are presently engaged in giving the PML-N a more liberal outlook and image. They have, for example, pushed through their demand that all Pakistanis be allowed full membership in the party, and not just Muslims as was the case previously..It is also noteworthy that the 1973 Constitution, which originally gave non-Muslim Pakistanis the right to vote for general and reserved minority seats in the assemblies, did have the acceptance of all the country´s political parties, including the Jamat-i-Islami. Even today, the JI does not deny its role in the making of the 1973 Constitution. It says it opposes the government´s present proposal because it is "politically motivated"..The Bhutto government has long dawdled over its professed commitment to remove or amend discriminatory laws, and the federal cabinet´s recent decision is therefore welcome. However, a constitutional amendment to restore the joint electorate system requires a two-third majority, both in the National Assembly and in the Senate (upper house). For this, the PPP does not have enough strength, although it can easily muster support for passing ordinary bills, which requires only a simple majority..There is a way out, however, to allow the minorities benefit of the vote as envisaged. Two months before the general elections in 1997, a presidential ordinance could be passed allowing joint electorates. These ordinances have a life span of four months, so the minorities would get to vote, in the spirit of the proposed changes..The non-Muslim´s potentially significant clout in Pakistan is somewhat out of proportion to their size, due to the balance of power between the government and the main opposition party. They have not been able to capitalise on this because of Gen Zia´s legacy..What is certain, however, is that if the country´s non-Muslim voters are brought into the mainstream as proposed, both Ms Bhutto´s PPP and Mr Sharifs PML-N will have to take time out to woo this long-neglected constituency.