Provisional edict: Protection of Pakistan Act against Shariah, says CII
Council unanimously recommends ban on religious hate speech.
ISLAMABAD:
The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Wednesday provisionally declared the controversial Protection of Pakistan Ordinance Act (PPA) 2014 against Shariah law.
Speaking at a news conference after the last session of CII’s 196th meeting, the council’s chairman, Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani, said the final edict over the matter would be issued after consultation with legal, defence and political experts. He said CII’s research wing has been directed to look into the provisions of the law and compile a report for further discussion.
Maulana Sherani said the CII meeting discussed several other subjects in addition to the PPA 2014, including the National Security Policy, Muslim Marriages Act 1939, Pakistan Treaty Series and corporal punishment for children.
He said the CII recommended that a woman cannot serve as a judge in Hudood and Qisas cases. The meeting also noted that while a marriage would not be annulled if a Muslim wife converts to another religion, but it would be revoked if a Muslim husband converts, he added.
The meeting also unanimously recommended a ban on hate speeches which lead to sectarian violence, particularly during the month of Muharram, Sherani said. The CII also called for better protection for minorities, observing that the government was responsible for providing security to non-Muslims and their places of worship.
The CII chairman told reporters that a committee would be constituted after consultation to look into the Pakistan Treaty Series. If needed, consultants would be hired from abroad for this purpose, he added.
The council also expressed satisfaction over the Islamic Financial Philosophy, Maulana Sherani said, adding that as far as the punishments regarding children was concerned, there was a need to do more research on this subject.
“This was an observation and no final decision [on corporal punishment for children] has been taken yet,” Maulana Tahir Ashrafi, a member of the CII, told The Express Tribune. According to him, Maulana Shirani and some other members of the council found some of the country’s internal policies against the spirit of Islam and the Constitution.
Meanwhile, Maulana Sherani denied receiving a letter from former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s son Arsalan Iftikhar which alleges Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan has a daughter out of wedlock. The CII chairman said that while the council had received a letter on the matter, it was not signed by Arsalan Iftikhar.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2014.
The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Wednesday provisionally declared the controversial Protection of Pakistan Ordinance Act (PPA) 2014 against Shariah law.
Speaking at a news conference after the last session of CII’s 196th meeting, the council’s chairman, Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani, said the final edict over the matter would be issued after consultation with legal, defence and political experts. He said CII’s research wing has been directed to look into the provisions of the law and compile a report for further discussion.
Maulana Sherani said the CII meeting discussed several other subjects in addition to the PPA 2014, including the National Security Policy, Muslim Marriages Act 1939, Pakistan Treaty Series and corporal punishment for children.
He said the CII recommended that a woman cannot serve as a judge in Hudood and Qisas cases. The meeting also noted that while a marriage would not be annulled if a Muslim wife converts to another religion, but it would be revoked if a Muslim husband converts, he added.
The meeting also unanimously recommended a ban on hate speeches which lead to sectarian violence, particularly during the month of Muharram, Sherani said. The CII also called for better protection for minorities, observing that the government was responsible for providing security to non-Muslims and their places of worship.
The CII chairman told reporters that a committee would be constituted after consultation to look into the Pakistan Treaty Series. If needed, consultants would be hired from abroad for this purpose, he added.
The council also expressed satisfaction over the Islamic Financial Philosophy, Maulana Sherani said, adding that as far as the punishments regarding children was concerned, there was a need to do more research on this subject.
“This was an observation and no final decision [on corporal punishment for children] has been taken yet,” Maulana Tahir Ashrafi, a member of the CII, told The Express Tribune. According to him, Maulana Shirani and some other members of the council found some of the country’s internal policies against the spirit of Islam and the Constitution.
Meanwhile, Maulana Sherani denied receiving a letter from former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s son Arsalan Iftikhar which alleges Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan has a daughter out of wedlock. The CII chairman said that while the council had received a letter on the matter, it was not signed by Arsalan Iftikhar.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2014.