Punjab Assembly: Lawmakers unite against American pastor
Many speak against liquor sales, argue for total prohibition.
LAHORE:
Members of all political parties in Punjab Assembly (PA), on Tuesday, unanimously condemned the American pastors Wayne Sapp and Terry Jones for disgracing the Holy Quran at Florida church in the United States. Many also demanded that liquor sales be stopped altogether.
The house proceedings began under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood. Earlier, four questions about the Excise and Taxation Department were taken up. The reported burning of a copy of the Holy Quran by an American pastor in Florida was a topic of serious concern for all members who, regardless of party affiliations, condemned it. A protest demonstration in front of the Assembly was led by the deputy chair.
Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and PML-Q parliamentary leader Chaudhary Zaheeruddin Khan moved a resolution condemning the incident. Sanaullah moved the first resolution which stated, “The Punjab Assembly expressed its serious concern and anger over the incident which took place under the supervision of Terry Jones, an accursed priest of a Florida church where a pastor set ablaze the most honourable book of the world known as Quran.” The resolution said that this action had caused serious offence to Muslims all over the world. The house demanded that the federal government take up the matter at international level. The house also demanded that a case be filed at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against those involved in the incident.
Sanaullah said that terrorists in Pakistan highlight such incidents to persuade teenagers to participate in suicide attacks.
Khan, through his resolution, said that the house expressed serious concern over the incident of disgracing the Holy Quran. The resolution also declared Terry Jones an enemy of all Muslims. Khan said that Muslim countries should announce a boycott of all American products.
Earlier during question hour, many members demanded that income from liquor sales be declared ‘prohibited’ (haram). They said that the government should take practical steps to stop production, sale and consumption of liquor.
Mashhood said that this was a federal subject and the provincial assembly could not legislate in this regard. He however, asked Sanaullah to discuss the issue with Muslim as well as non-Muslim members to seek their proposals and suggestion on the topic.
The issue was highlighted by PPP’s Syed Hassan Murtaza during the question hour when on a point of order he drew the chair’s attention to income from liquor sale.
Minister for Excise and Taxation Mian Mujtaba said that liquor was sold to non-Muslims under the 1979 Hudood Ordinance. He also said it was not a provincial subject and an amendment in law would be needed to bring about a change.
PPP’s Fauzia Behram, Unification Bloc’s Saeed Akbar Niwani and PML’s Khawaja Muhammad Islam all demanded a ban on the production, sale and use of liquor. They said it should not be allowed to continue at any cost.
Minority members Engr Shahzad Amer, PML-N’s Joel Sahotra and Minister for Minorities Kamran Michael said consumption of liquor was also prohibited in Christianity. Murtaza reported that nine hotels in the province were allowed to sell liquor but only to non-Muslims.
The minister said that Ambassador Hotel in Lahore was the top taxpayer out of these hotels, it had paid the government Rs199 million in taxes in 2008-2009 while Holiday Inn Lahore paid tax amounting to Rs150 million against the sale of liquor.
The house proceeding was adjourned till Friday at 9 am.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2011.
Members of all political parties in Punjab Assembly (PA), on Tuesday, unanimously condemned the American pastors Wayne Sapp and Terry Jones for disgracing the Holy Quran at Florida church in the United States. Many also demanded that liquor sales be stopped altogether.
The house proceedings began under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood. Earlier, four questions about the Excise and Taxation Department were taken up. The reported burning of a copy of the Holy Quran by an American pastor in Florida was a topic of serious concern for all members who, regardless of party affiliations, condemned it. A protest demonstration in front of the Assembly was led by the deputy chair.
Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and PML-Q parliamentary leader Chaudhary Zaheeruddin Khan moved a resolution condemning the incident. Sanaullah moved the first resolution which stated, “The Punjab Assembly expressed its serious concern and anger over the incident which took place under the supervision of Terry Jones, an accursed priest of a Florida church where a pastor set ablaze the most honourable book of the world known as Quran.” The resolution said that this action had caused serious offence to Muslims all over the world. The house demanded that the federal government take up the matter at international level. The house also demanded that a case be filed at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against those involved in the incident.
Sanaullah said that terrorists in Pakistan highlight such incidents to persuade teenagers to participate in suicide attacks.
Khan, through his resolution, said that the house expressed serious concern over the incident of disgracing the Holy Quran. The resolution also declared Terry Jones an enemy of all Muslims. Khan said that Muslim countries should announce a boycott of all American products.
Earlier during question hour, many members demanded that income from liquor sales be declared ‘prohibited’ (haram). They said that the government should take practical steps to stop production, sale and consumption of liquor.
Mashhood said that this was a federal subject and the provincial assembly could not legislate in this regard. He however, asked Sanaullah to discuss the issue with Muslim as well as non-Muslim members to seek their proposals and suggestion on the topic.
The issue was highlighted by PPP’s Syed Hassan Murtaza during the question hour when on a point of order he drew the chair’s attention to income from liquor sale.
Minister for Excise and Taxation Mian Mujtaba said that liquor was sold to non-Muslims under the 1979 Hudood Ordinance. He also said it was not a provincial subject and an amendment in law would be needed to bring about a change.
PPP’s Fauzia Behram, Unification Bloc’s Saeed Akbar Niwani and PML’s Khawaja Muhammad Islam all demanded a ban on the production, sale and use of liquor. They said it should not be allowed to continue at any cost.
Minority members Engr Shahzad Amer, PML-N’s Joel Sahotra and Minister for Minorities Kamran Michael said consumption of liquor was also prohibited in Christianity. Murtaza reported that nine hotels in the province were allowed to sell liquor but only to non-Muslims.
The minister said that Ambassador Hotel in Lahore was the top taxpayer out of these hotels, it had paid the government Rs199 million in taxes in 2008-2009 while Holiday Inn Lahore paid tax amounting to Rs150 million against the sale of liquor.
The house proceeding was adjourned till Friday at 9 am.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2011.