Minorities face daunting test

As Pakistan heads into parliamentary elections tomorrow, the country's minorities are looking for better representation and a voice that will speak up for them.

It's an uphill struggle for Pakistani Christians, Sikhs, Ahmadis and others. The country's complicated electoral system allots minorities and women a small number of "reserved" seats, based on their parties' gains at the polls. But for the rest of the seats — both in the 342-seat National Assembly and the four provincial legislatures — members of minority groups are increasingly choosing to run as independent candidates.

THE CHRISTIANS

Garbage is piled by the roadside and cinderblock homes have flimsy curtains instead of doors in Rimshah, a squatters' settlement on the outskirts of Islamabad. Years ago, scores of Christian families settled here when a mob of Muslim men, enraged over an alleged act of blasphemy by an 11-year-old Christian girl, tried to kill her and drove them out of their homes.

They named the slum Rimshah, for the 11-year-old girl with Down's syndrome who was eventually cleared of charges of tearing up pages of an Islamic religious book.

Michael Rose, an outspoken advocate of the Christian community, campaigns in Rimshah for Asif Shahzada, an independent Christian candidate.

THE SIKHS

Radesh Singh is one of about 200,000 Sikhs living in Pakistan, mostly in the conservative Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province along the border with Afghanistan. The Sikhs are easily identifiable because of their tightly wound and often colorful turbans, and because they share the surname Singh. Singh said attacks by the Taliban and lately also the Islamic State group have forced thousands to leave the province, including his son. Singh is campaigning as an independent candidate in Peshawar.

THE HINDUS

Hindus make up Pakistan's second-largest minority, with more than 2 million, living mainly in southern Sindh province. Many live as indentured slaves on the estates of some of Pakistan's largest landowners, working on the farms. The Hindus also suffer widespread discrimination because of the decades-old rivalry between Pakistan and neighbouring India, a majority Hindu nation.

Veeru Kohli was born a slave but fled bondage, walking for three days until she found offices of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan to help her. She then returned to the landowner to recover her children and free eight other families. Kohli is now running as an independent candidate.

THE SHIAS

Though Muslim, Pakistan's Shias have suffered enormous losses, with hundreds slaughtered at the hands of radical Sunni Muslims who consider Shias heretics. However, unlike other minorities, Shias in Pakistan are not allocated any special seats in parliament and can run either on their party's ticket or as independents.