Lahore: October 6, 2015. (PCP) The Punjab Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance 2015 is a new systematic approach to make vulnerable community (Religious Minorities) more vulnerable and to openly violate their basic political rights. Not giving right to poll to religious minorities and to elect their representatives indirectly is contradict with constitution and against democracy. Justice and Peace Commission-MSLCP has raised voice. In a meeting of office bearers and minorities political activists in Justice and Peace Commission to discuss The Punjab Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance 2015, Executive Secretary Hyacinth Peter viewed that local bodies are nursery of democracy and true democracy is to give equal rights and opportunities everyone regardless any condition to contest and vote according to their will. But this ordinance is anti-democracy and discriminatory that had excluded minorities from electoral process, rather to give right to vote, indirect ways to elect their representatives have been approved. Indirectly elected local representative could not be called true minority’s representatives and they would be just puppets. We strongly condemn and reject this discriminatory local body election ordinance which is against the basic right and contradict with constitution. Local Body Election Ordinance is not only violating the voting rights of religious minorities but it also violates voting rights of youth and women. We religious minorities are equal citizens and Pakistan is our country therefore we can’t accept any discrimination based on any condition, Hyacinth added. He expressed that many Articles of the Constitution provide protection to minorities’ rights while this decision would not allow the minorities local politicians and political workers to come forward instead it would allow government and political parties to bring forward their favorites which would promote favoritism which is against democratic process. This decision is anti-constitution because constitution gives the right of vote to every citizen with secret ballot. He further added. Giving reference to Supreme Court Judgment on 18th and 21st amendment, Hyacinth said that the Honorable Retried Chief Justice Jawad S Khawaja clearly viewed (in paragraphs 110-119) that article 51 of the 18th Constitutional Amendment has made religious minorities secondary citizens and in new system doors of exploitation have been opened for religious minorities. CJ further quoted that it would be possible for political parties to include such people in parliament that obey their orders and as a result true minorities’ representations could not reach parliament. He appealed to government that should stop to play with emotions of minorities and treat them as equal citizen. Religious minorities in every era struggle for democracy and democratic setup therefore democratic values should be practiced at every level. We strongly demanded that this discriminatory ordinance should be reviewed and give liberty and right to minorities and other vulnerable segments to elect their representatives through direct electoral process otherwise they will boycott this anti-minorities election.