He also slammed Pervez Musharraf for not heeding to Pakistan National Christian Party’s demand of amending article 41 of the constitution of Pakistan which he stated says, “A person shall not be qualified for election as President unless he is a Muslim of not less than forty-five years of age and is qualified to be elected as member of the National Assembly.”

Francis has submitted a written petition to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He says that he expects a hearing on the petition after the “restoration of judges.”

Francis said that the former Pakistan President Musharraf announced that there would be 33 percent of the seats for women before 2002 elections. “However, no seats were reserved for minority women,” he lamented.

He said that the minorities’ councilors were worst hit under Musharraf’s Devolution Plan. “They (the minority councilors) neither have power nor any funds,” he said. “They are at the mercy of their respective Nazims (Mayors).”

Francis said that if Musharraf ever wanted to empower minorities he could have enacted a law under which each political party of the country was supposed to award at least 10 percent direct party tickets to minorities.

“Reserved seats for minorities have not increased since the creation of Pakistan and Musharraf’s rule was no exception,” he said.

Francis was of the view that the former President should not be credited for replacing Separate Electorate System for minorities with a Joint Electorate System.

“Musharraf introduced the Joint Electorate System for minorities after knuckling under international pressure,” he alleged.

Following Musharraf’s resignation on August 18, Chairman Senate Muhammad Mian Soomro has taken over as acting President. According to Pakistan’s constitution the new President has to be elected within 30 days.

Asked which party’s presidential candidate should become next President, Francis said, “Whoever becomes next President, he is likely to remain indifferent toward Pakistani Christians.”

Francis dubbed the next 30 days “very critical” for Pakistan. Asked if Islamic fundamentalism would surge in Pakistan after Musharraf’s disappearance from the political scene, Francis feared that Islamists would become “more detrimental” for the country in the absence of President Musharraf.

He dispelled the impression that Pervez Musharraf had employed steps to ameliorate the lot of Pakistani minorities. Musharraf confronted radical Islamists because this is what the U.S had expected of him. “He had thrown his lot with the U.S President George W. Bush in the wake of 9/11 terrorist attacks in USA,” said Francis. “Musharraf’s role in war on terror did not improve minorities’ situation.”

Bishop Samuel Azariah of the Diocese of Riwand, Church of Pakistan, said that Musharraf made the right decision to resign. “He had lost popularity with masses. There was a general opinion in the country that he should go,” said Bishop Samuel.