Pakistan's Disenfranchised Muslim Minority
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Dear Editor:
Re: "Pakistan Vote Cannot Be Fair, Say Rights Groups," a prime issue that chokes the political health of troubled Pakistan is that not all of its able citizens are allowed to vote. Yielding to the demands of extremist Mullahs, in 1985 then dictator General Zia-ul-Haq enacted a Separate Electorate System which banned a large Muslim minority in Pakistan, the Ahmadiyya Community, from voting, unless its members renounced their faith. The disenfranchisement continued during the subsequent regimes of late Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. Even though President Musharraf has created a Joint Electorate, by special order it does not apply to Ahmadi Muslims. Ironically, the Ahmadiyya Community that Pakistani political leaders have excluded from voting at the Mullahs' behest is among the most patriotic, highly educated, and upstanding communities in Pakistan. Thus a first step to remedying Pakistan's manifold ailments is to reinstate voting rights for all of its citizens, including Ahmadi Muslims. The wisdom of democratic principles holds this right to be inalienable. Sohail Husain, MD New Haven, CT |
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"Muslims and Pakistan"Author:
WorldofGood.com Community
Time: 19.03.2008 23:53
Comment: Thanks for this informative post!
I wanted to compliment it with articles and blog posts on the WorldofGood.com community: Peace on the border of Pakistan & India: One Man's Efforts: http://tinyurl.com/2nh3dl Women and the environment Pt 1: http://tinyurl.com/34x2as "Lessons in Love" At his City Montessori School in Lucknow, India, Jagdish Gandhi teaches kids how to change the world: http://tinyurl.com/37wnzs Keep up the awesome reporting! -Lauren S |
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