PIL urges PBS to release population data of non-Muslim Pakistanis

Chairman Pakistan Interfaith League (PIL) Sajid Ishaq has said that Pakistan Interfaith League demanded the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics to release Population Census data 2017 of Non-Muslim Pakistanis causing ambiguities in the correct figure of the minority population in Pakistan.
Addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club, he said the religious minorities believe that the population census data of the Non-Muslim Pakistanis is being intentionally delayed in order to discourage their true representation in the parliament.
Further elaborating, he said that the demand of increasing the reserved seats for the minorities was presented twice in the National Assembly between 2008 (PPP Government) and 2013 (PML-N Government) however both the times it was struck down on the pretext that the issue would be taken up after the next census.
Sajid Ishaq said that even after the 2017 Population Census, the data of the minority population was deliberately held back and the proof is that the Election Reforms Committee, which sat down in 2017 had no comprehensive data on the minority population, yet again denying the Constitutional Rights of increasing the reserved seats of the Minorities as per their population and resulting in unequal distribution of representation.
He also highlighted the grievance that the Election Reforms Committee comprised only of members of the majority community, with no member from the minority community.
Sajid Ishaq demanded that Electoral Reforms should be made and the present practice of "Selection" should be abolished and "Election" should be promulgated so that the minority representatives are accountable to their voters instead of their political parties.
He further pointed out that Non-Muslim constituencies should be divided province wise, in accordance to their population in each province.
Sajid Ishaq also said that Non-Muslim Pakistanis demand their Constitutional Rights from all political parties of Islamic Republic of Pakistan; protection of the rights of the Non-Muslim Pakistanis should be incorporated in their party manifestos.
He said that this Press Conference was in continuation of PIL campaign which was announced on April 17, 2018 that Pakistan Interfaith League would be reaching out to the Christian Community from Khyber to Karachi for providing them awareness regarding their Constitutional Rights and their long awaited demands for Electoral Reforms for the Minorities.