The Council of Islamic Ideology[1] (CII) on Wednesday provisionally declared the controversial Protection of Pakistan Ordinance Act (PPA) 2014[2] 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.[3] 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 also called for better protection for minorities, observing that the government was responsible for providing security to non-Muslims
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 Sherani 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 (PTI) 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.
Courtesy: The Express Tribune
[1] As per article 230 of the Constitution of Pakistan the functions of Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) shall be to to make recommendations to Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) and the Provincial Assemblies as to the ways and means of enabling and encouraging the Muslims of Pakistan to order their lives individually and collectively in all respects in accordance with the principles and concepts of Islam as enunciated in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah (Prophet’s way) see more at http://cii.gov.pk/aboutcii/function.aspx
[2] The Protection of Pakistan Ordinance (PPO) is a law which grants absolute powers to security forces to open fire at any person he presumes to commit or likely to commit an offence against the state, property or citizens of Pakistan. See more at http://www.na.gov.pk/uploads/documents/1383819468_951.pdf
[3] Muharram is the first month of Islamic calendar; Shia Muslims mourn the death of Hussain (Prophet’s grandson) at Karbala, Iraq in 680A.D.