Abdul Hadi Mayar Islamabad
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq today referred the matter pertaining to a controversial Supreme Court decision, which had aroused blasphemy charges in country, to Committee on Law and Justice, directing it to evolve a comprehensive strategy after deliberations and consultation with religious experts.
The matter was raised on a Point of Order moved by Sahibzada Hamid Raza, chairman Sunni Ittehad Council, alleging that the apex court verdict in Mubarak Sani case was tantamount to rewriting of the constitution.
After thorough debate involving Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Pakistan Peoples’ Party MNA Abdul Qadir Patel and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri of Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, the Speaker observed that the issue pertained to sensitive religious matters; hence should be referred to Committee on Law and Justice.
The Supreme Court verdict and the remarks passed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa in the said case has aroused huge resentment from religious circles and the deputy Ameer of Tehrik-e-Lubbaik Pakistan, Pir Zaheerul Hassan has even announced one crore rupee prize for the person who would bring him the head of the chief justice.
The two-judge bench had in its judgment in February this year, ordered release of the petitioner, Mubarak Sani, a member of the minority Ahmadi community. But what was taken more serious by the religion circles was the Chief Justice’s remarks that ‘there must not be any compulsion in religion.’ He also said that freedom of faith was one the fundamental tenets of Islam.
Three amendment bills were also introduced in the House today. Bilal Azhar Kiani presented a bill seeking to further amend the Election Act 2017.
