[DAWN] Lawmakers belonging to minorities demanded to amend the Constitution and make non-Moslems eligible for the slots of president and prime minister of the country."Although it will be almost impossible for any non-Moslem to become president or the prime minster of the country under the present circumstances, at least the Constitution should be made neutral in this regard," Khalil George, member of the National Assembly, said on Thursday.
George was speaking on the floor of the House.
Khalil George, who belongs to the ruling Pakistain Moslem League-Nawaz, was of the view that a constitutional ban on non-Moslems barring them from becoming head of the state and chief executive was sending wrong message to minorities residing in the country.
"Non-Moslems think they are not equal citizens in Pakistain," George said, adding that an amendment in the Constitution will send positive message to the minorities.
Endorsing the demand of his colleague, Pakistain People’s Party's (PPP) politician Ramesh Lal said, constitutional restriction on non-Moslems is in violation of basic human rights
...not to be confused with
individual rights,mind you...
and teachings of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah -- the founder of Pakistain.
"Is there any doubt about the patriotism of non-Moslems," Lal questioned. He went on to say that making them [minorities] ineligible for top slots creates a sense of deprivation among the minorities.
Asiya Nasir of Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam
...a pak religious party. It is usually part of the govt, never part of the solution...
-Fazl also raised her voice in supported of the idea. She said "no one should have problem if non-Moslems are given right to become president and the prime minister of the country".