Minorities in Pakistan have played a key role in July 25 polls, with more than 3.63 million voters casting their ballots as compared to 2.77 million in the last general election.
As per the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), there is a 30 percent rise in number of minority votes cast in 2018 General Election. However, the turnout stands at 49 percent.
In 2013 General Election, the number of registered minority voters stood at 2,770,000, including 1,400,000 Hindus, 1,230,000 Christians, 115,966 Ahmedis, 5,900 Sikhs, 3,650 Parsis, 1,452 Buddhism voters and 13,032 others.
But in the recently held elections, the number surged to 3,630,000, including 1,770,000 Hindus, 1,640,000 Christians, 167,505 Ahmedis, 8,852 Sikhs, 4,235 Parsis, 1,884 Buddhism voters and 37,524 others.
Making history, Mahesh Kumar Malani of the Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) won elections from NA-222, becoming the first Hindu candidate to win a National Assembly seat directly. He defeated his rival candidate Arab Zakaullah of the Grand Democratic Alliance.
Ramesh had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from June 2013 to May 2018.
Previously, he had been a member of the Sindh Assembly from 2002 to 2007.
Six other non-Muslim candidates for the 2018 General Election were Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, Isphanyar M Bhandara, Aasiya Nasir, Lenain Luhar, Khalil Tahir Sindhu and Sanjay Pardani
Isphanyar M Bhandara belongs to PML-N. He had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from June 2013 to May 2018. He was also at the same position from 2002 to 2007.
Aasiya Nasir belongs to Christian Community. She fought elections on JUI ticket.
Another candidate Lenain Luhar, who belongs to Dalat Sujak Tehrek, actively participated in elections.
Khalil Tahir Sindhu, who is a member of Christian community, had been the member of Punjab Assembly by dint of PML-N.
Sanjay Pardani fought elections on a MQM-P ticket.
It might be mentioned that the PTI has been allotted five minority seats in the National Assembly. The PPP and PTI have been allotted two seats each.
Published in Daily Times, August 13th 2018.