Christians Oppose New ‘Anti-Minority’ Poll Law in Punjab, Pakistan
Christian rights groups in Pakistan have filed a petition with the Lahore High Court against the Punjab Local Government Act 2025. They argue the new election law is discriminatory towards religious minorities because it replaces direct elections for reserved seats with party nominations.
“The right to elect one’s own representatives is fundamental to meaningful participation,” said Samson Salamat, chairman of Rwadari Tehreek (Movement for Religious Tolerance), one of the petitioners.
The petition, filed by three Christian organizations on November 5, claims the law violates constitutional guarantees of equality and voting rights for minorities.
Details of the Punjab Local Government Act 2025
- Local elections will be held in late December for over 4,000 union councils, the smallest units of local government.
- Each council will consist of nine directly elected members.
- Four reserved seats per council will be filled by party nominations rather than direct elections.
- Reserved seats include spots for minorities, women, laborers or farmers, and youth.
Impact on Minority Representation
Christian groups contend that the removal of direct elections from the minority reserved seats undermines communities' ability to choose their representatives freely, weakening democratic participation and minority rights.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over fair representation and participation of religious minorities in Pakistan’s local governance.
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