Pakistan's Christians want more seats in parliament

ISLAMABAD: Demanding more seats in Parliament, members of minority Christian community in Pakistan have announced a boycott of the January 8 general election under the current interim set-up.
    
In a rally organised here on Friday, the community members said the government had increased the quota for women in parliament but failed to hike the number of seats for Christians.
     
They also announced they would boycott the January 8 general election under the current interim set-up. Led by former federal minister J Salik, around 300 Christians blocked the Municipal Road for about two hours here. Police tried to block their march from the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club to the office of the Geo TV channel.
    
Shouting anti-government slogans, the protesters demanded that the constitution and the pre-emergency judiciary be restored. The protesters criticised the government for curbing the media and depriving people of their constitutional right to unhindered access to information.
      
They asked the government to provide them permanent accommodation in the federal capital, failing which they said they would occupy public places like parks.
      
About 2.4 million Christians live in Pakistan.