Pakistan’s first: GBLA passes law to curb sectarianism
In a historic move the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) on Monday enacted a law to curb sectarian menace that has plagued the mountain region. The GBLA has become the first provincial legislature to have enacted a law dealing with sectarianism.
Titled “Code of Conduct” (CoC), the bill was unanimously passed by the GBLA after being tabled in the house by Law Minister Wazir Shakeel on Friday.
“CoC has been given a legal status and GBLA is the first assembly to have passed such a bill,” said Amjad Hussain, a lawyer and ruling party member of GBLA. He said that the bill was earlier endorsed by top clerics of different schools of thought.
Hussain said that soon after the law was passed, the G-B government reopened the two central mosques sealed after sectarian violence that claimed over two dozen lives in the region. He added that from now on violators of the law will be treated under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The CoC was initially prepared by the parliamentary peace committee constituted by lawmakers binding prayer leaders not to make hate speeches or use foul language against each others beliefs and religious personalities.
It states that the prayer leaders will not issue edicts against each another’s sect, especially during Friday and Eid sermons. It further states that the clerics will also not demand their respective sect’s share in jobs and other government matters.
GBLA speaker Wazir Baig applauded the role of the lawmakers in passing the bill, saying that it will be a milestone in ensuring durable peace in the region.
G-B Chief Secretary Saifullah Chatha said that lawmakers have made history by passing the law. “I congratulate you on this extraordinary achievement,” he said, while addressing lawmakers at a local hotel.
“I’m hopeful that the rest of assemblies would also emulate GBLA in order to root out religious extremism from their respective regions,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2012.
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@ p r sharma..... That would the USA sir...
@Questioner: ... In which country right of freedom of speech allow to abuse others ?
They should also pass laws curtailing ANY funding coming from other "brotherly Muslim countries" that are using Pakistan as a battleground for their sectarian proxy wars.
Yes, that would be Saudi, other GCC countries, and Iran!!!
Fully agree with Gestapo,CoC or any other law can not stop sectarian tension unless these countries stop funding their people.
Questioner! Freedom of speech I have only heard and seen people judging! Religion is supposed to be personal and I am answerable for my own grave… I don’t want anyone to judge me for my dogmas.
To be clean we have to scrap all amendments added to original constitution that stained our entire beliefs. One of these amendments that were included in the constitution for political gains is so called blasphemy laws that was a clear cut political bribe. State must not have any indulgences to name peoples faiths on the pressure of any fanatic government or sectarian fanatics.
Good initiative.The other Provinces should take the cue and step into 21st century.Let religion occupy the place of great leveler and torch-bearer of tolerance,love and understanding.Any call for elimination by violence of followers of other beliefs should attract maximum punishment under the law.At least, such elements be debarred from holding any public, political or party office for life.And judiciary should also be empowered and secured to take decisions boldly without fear of backlash or threats from the such vested interests.Many criminals have escaped punishment through such pressures in the recent past.
There should be a law against fatwas as well.
@Questioner: Freedom of speech excludes hate speech throughout the world.
Apart from passing of laws, which is essential, there should be a conscious effort to create a milieu in which the merchants of sectarian hatred find it impossible to operate. The first step in this regard is of course to reduce the temperature and impress upon the clerics of all sizes, shapes and colour that sectarian violence will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Perpetrators of such violence must be severely dealt with.
Nothing will work until we stop Iran and Saudi Arabia from supporting and funding their networks in this country.
Nice move. I hope it works for the benefit of everyone. Balochistan needs such laws too.
Well done all sects of Islam. Now please act on this strictly and unbiasedly. May Allah give you people strength to act and strengthen the Pakistan.
Doesn't it violate freedom of speech ?
Seems they should run this country. Not the present lot with their medieval mindset.
Sindh, Punjab and KPK should pass such laws too in their provinces.