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India-Pakistan
Musharraf introduces electoral reforms...
2002-01-16
  • President Pervez Musharraf has agreed to a long-standing demand from the non-Muslim minority for a single electorate system. The president also substantially increased the number of seats in the National Assembly and increased the quota of seats reserved for women in a series of reforms ahead of elections later this year. Under the existing separate system of voting, 10 seats were reserved for non-Muslim minorities, with exclusive elections for their communities. The system, introduced in 1985, was strongly opposed by non-Muslims, particularly Christians. "It will remove insecurity in the Christian community," said Shahbaz Bhatti, president of Christian Liberation Front. The National Assembly, dissolved after the 1999 coup which put Musharraf in power, will be increased from 237 seats to 350 in the elections expected to be held by October. The number of seats reserved for women has been raised from 20 to 60, and 25 new seats have been created for technocrats. The reforms also include a requirement that National Assembly candidates must hold a university bachelor's degree.
    That should be good for a raft of votes from grateful minorities, and at the same time should weaken the influence of the fundos. Requiring a bachelor's degree locks out the madrassah graduates. Not a bad move. Only thing that bothers me: Does everybody in Pakistan have a "Liberation Front"?
  • Posted by:Fred Pruitt

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