January 10, 2008	Thursday	Zilhaj 30, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Jan 9: Convener World Minorities Alliance (WMA) J Salik on Wednesday led a rally to highlight the plight of shelterless dwellers of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The rally was participated by homeless, handicapped and unemployed people from ‘Kachi Abadies’, of the twin cities including women and children.

Participants were holding placards and marched from office of the WMA to Press Club camp office at Melody where the chief of the WMA addressed the participants and media to exhort upon the government to give priority to the issue of underprivileged and helpless people.

He called upon the new Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani to declare the year 2008 as civilian year, instead calling it “soldiers’ year”. In support of his demand he stressed that the civilians not the military personnel needed “harmonisation” with social, political, administrative, and military strategies, he said.

APP ADDS: Speaking on the occasion, J. Salik also stressed the need to give minorities equal representation in all the elected forums in line with Constitution.

J. Salik highlighted the need to hold joint- electoral process according to the 1973’s Constitution, saying “We have always been saying that elections on the reserved seats should be held according to the Constitution of Pakistan”, he said.

He was of the view that members, selected through this process, represent their respective political parties and not the minorities or the women.

In 2002, the number of general seats in the parliament was increased from 207 to 272 and the women seats from 15 to 60, but the minorities seats remained unchanged, he said.