January 4, 2006	Wednesday	Zilhaj 3, 1426

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) chairman, Shahbaz Bhatti, says the religious minorities living in Pakistan should be given representation in the Senate so that they can also play their role in the legislation process.

Talking to a group of newsmen here on Tuesday, Mr Bhatti said that at least five seats should be reserved for the minorities in the Senate. He said the reserved seats should be announced before the Senate election for half of its members in March.

He said the reserved seats had already been allocated for FATA, women and technocrats in the Senate, while minorities were yet to get representation.

Mr Bhatti said minorities were given representation through reserved seats in the district assemblies, provincial assemblies and National Assembly but were kept away in the highest house of legislation, which was contrary to the policy endorsed in the constitution of Pakistan. It even violates the democratic norms, principles and thoughts of Quaid-i-Azam, he added.

“If we want to see Pakistan as an enlightened moderate state in its true sense and enhance the democratic and progressive image of the country then the minorities should be given equal and similar rights and opportunities in every walk of life,” Mr Bhatti said.