Safeguarding Islamic values: JUI-F to host religious parties’ confab today

Move follows Qadri’s execution, passing of Protection of Women against Violence Act

ISLAMABAD: Following the execution of Mumtaz Qadri, the self-confessed killer of former governor Punjab and the passing of Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act (PPWVA), dissenting Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has called for a consultative meeting of major religious political parties on Saturday (today).

Last month the Punjab Assembly unanimously passed the PPWVA which was widely criticised by the party. “I have called a consultative meeting on Saturday (today) to discuss the future course of action, after two important developments, including Qadri’s execution and the controversial bill passed by the provincial assembly,” Fazlur Rehman told reporters outside parliament on Friday.



Fazal said that an invitation has been sent to JI chief Sirajul Haq, Ameer Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith, Allama Sajid Mir, Millat-i-Jafria chief, Allama Sajid Ali Naqvi, and Milli Yakjehty Council chief Sahibzada Dr Abul Khair Zubair and others in this regard.

According to him, after consultations a future strategy will be finalised on whether his party should mobilize the public or show the street powers collectively against the two recent developments. He said that thousands of cases were pending in the court but Qadri’s appeal was disposed of in a haste manner which was surprising.

Religious parties had already criticised the PPWVA, terming it against Islamic values and have called upon Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah to review the law.

“I believe this law seeks to intrude the privacy of every individual and it would destroy Pakistan’s strong family system,” said Rehman, who vowed continue to protect the Islamic values in the country.

It is noted the Council of Islamic Ideology CII, the top religious body which gives its recommendation to the legislature regarding Islamic laws had already declared the law un-Islamic.

JUI-F chief said that husband and wife are considered partners in the West, but Pakistan has strong family system which is based in Islamic values. “Islam gives more respect to a women than any other law and religion gives and we (JUI-F) will not support anything which is against the Islamic values,” he added.

Similarly, the act was also challenged Federal Shariat Court FSC. The petition was filed by Mohammad Aslam Khaki, a Supreme Court lawyer and professor of Islamic law.

The petitioner had requested the court to declare the law — especially Section 7(d, e) of the act — repugnant to Islam, the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2016.