ISLAMABAD, Dec 17: Former federal minister and Christian community leader J Salik has appealed to the minorities to boycott the Jan 8 election to protest against the selection and nomination criteria of candidates on reserved seats for women and minorities.

Talking to Dawn here on Monday, Mr Salik regretted that the minorities had not been given the right to elect their representatives as they were selected and nominated by the political parties they showed allegiance to.

Similarly, he said, women candidates on 60 reserved seats for the National Assembly were also selected and nominated by the political parties leadership and these women came to the assemblies without seeking votes merely on the basis of the general seats won by political parties in the election.