Zardari returns Daanish Schools bill to Shehbaz

Calls for prior consultation with provinces

ISLAMABAD:

President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday returned the Daanish Schools Authority Bill, 2025, to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for reconsideration, in view of the need for provincial consultation.

"In the case of establishment of Daanish schools in the provinces, prior consultation with the respective provincial governments is essential," the statement quoted the president as saying.

However, he accorded his assent to three bills on the advice of the prime minister, following their passage by both the houses of parliament.

The president signed into law the Qanun-e-Shahadat (law of evidence) (Amendment) Bill, 2025 as well as King Hamad University of Nursing and Associated Medical Sciences Bill, 2025.

The president also assented to the National Commission for Minorities Rights Bill, 2025 aimed protecting, empowering and developing religious minority communities through various measures across the country.

The National Commission for Minorities Rights Bill 2025 was passed with a majority vote during a joint session of parliament earlier this month amid stiff opposition from both sides of the aisle.

The opposition was based on fears that a provision giving the law an overriding effect would affect the anti-Ahmadiyya ordinance promulgated in 1984.

A motion seeking leave of the house to take up the bill for immediate consideration was opposed by around one-third of the members present in the joint sitting. A total of 160 members voted in favour of the bill while 79 opposed it.

The bill was, however, passed with certain amendments, including the omission of the clause giving it overriding effect and a change to withdraw the suo motu powers earlier proposed for the National Commission for Minorities' Rights.

During the session, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had made it clear that the bill would neither dilute the anti-Ahmadiyya provisions nor affect any court judgement.