ISLAMABAD – The National Assembly (NA) on Monday passed two key legislations including National Commission for Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025, amid ruckus by the opposition parties.
The lowers house of parliament also approved the Federal Prosecution Service (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Both bills were tabled by Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar during a joint session of the parliament.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamat-e-Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F) opposed the bills despite an assurance from the law minister that no any legislation will be made in contradiction to Islamic principles.
Azam Nazeer Tarar emphasized that the proposed bill aligns with the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah and should not be politicized. He highlighted that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) strongly advocated for the protection of non-Muslims’ rights, a principle also enshrined in Pakistan’s constitution.
The minister reminded that in 2014, the Supreme Court had instructed the creation of a commission dedicated to safeguarding the rights of non-Muslim citizens. He further explained that the commission established through this bill would provide a platform for non-Muslims to voice their concerns and seek redress from the government.
Opposition Raises Concerns
Earlier, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that any law that contradicts Islamic principles would not be accepted at any cost. He reiterated that his party’s position on minority rights has always been firm.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar also shared similar concerns, stating that no law against Islam could be approved.
He emphasized that such a move would be intolerable for the country, its people, and its parliament, and that this law would take precedence over others.
As a result, the amendments proposed by JUI and Barrister Gohar, including the removal of Clause 35, were ultimately accepted.
