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Bill seeking debate on ideology of Pakistan rejected

* Ideology should be defined clearly: Bhindara
* MNA demands financial help for marriages of poor girls

By Shahzad Raza

ISLAMABAD: Both the opposition and treasury rejected a bill seeking debate on the ideology of Pakistan in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

MP Bhindara, a minority MNA from the Pakistan Muslim League, moved the private bill, which sought deletion of portions of Article 62 (h), which says a candidate for parliament “must not have opposed the ideology of Pakistan”, and Article 63 (g), which disqualifies a member of parliament if “he is propagating any opinion, or acting in any manner prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan”, of the Constitution.

Bhindara said that the ideology of Pakistan had not been defined, so these articles should be deleted until a definition is specified. “I am not saying that a definition of ideology should not exist in the Constitution. Tell us exactly what is the ideology of our country. The Objectives Resolution does not define the ideology of Pakistan,” he said.

He said different people had different ideas about the ideology of Pakistan, and the issue should be discussed in parliament so a consensus can be reached on what the country’s ideology is.

Opposition members Liaqat Baloch and Hafiz Hussain Ahmed of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan Niazi rejected his plea, saying the ideology of Pakistan was based on its Islamic nature. Only Riaz Hussain Pirzada of the PML endorsed the mover’s plea for a debate on the subject.

Niazi said, “The oath of parliamentarians and the president explains that they must ‘strive to preserve the Islamic ideology which is the basis for the creation of Pakistan’.” He asked NA Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain not to allow a debate. Baloch said Article 2 of the Constitution established that Islam was the state religion. He feared a crisis if a debate was allowed on the sensitive subject.

Hafiz Hussain said that under Article 227 of the Constitution, all Pakistan’s laws must be in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah. He said that the ideology of Pakistan was based on that principle.

Pirzada said a debate was needed to educate the new generation. He urged MNAs not to be “narrow minded” and “drag religion into every minor issue”, which was damaging the country. He observed that before the creation of Pakistan, Muslims and Hindus lived peacefully under laws made and implemented by the British.

MNA Mujeeb Pirzada said that the Supreme Court had defined the ideology of Pakistan several times as based on democracy, federalism, the parliamentary form of government and Islamic mode of the Constitution. He backed arguments that the Objective Resolution provided a basis for the country’s ideology.

Baitul Maal: Through another bill, MNA Rubina Shaheen Wattoo proposed that a legal provision be inserted in the Pakistan Baitul Maal Act, 1991, so the fund gives financial assistance to people living below the poverty line for the marriages of their daughters.

Wattoo moved another bill demanding an end to discrimination against women in inheritance rights. She said women were often pressed to give statements to surrender their right of inheritance. The courts must not accept such statements, she said. The government did not oppose either of Wattoo’s bills and both were referred to the standing committees concerned.

MMA members later staged a walkout from proceedings after the NA speaker did not allow them to speak on the Balochistan issue. Hafiz Hussain also pointed out the lack of quorum in the house.

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