Sharia Bill will block extremism, says Agha

* Jirga’s verdict will decide people’s fate

By Azizullah Khan

QUETTA: Balochistan’s Sharia Bill for 2003 will block sectarianism and religious extremism, said Maulana Abdul Bari Agha, Sharia Council chairman and member of the provincial assembly (MPA), here on Friday at a council meeting.

He said that publicity or propaganda of sectarianism would be prohibited and all sects would be free to follow their beliefs. No one would be allowed to issue statements and interfere in others’ affairs, while violators of the law would be punished, he added.

Chairman Agha said details of the bill would be thoroughly considered at regular council meetings to make it acceptable to all sects of Muslims. The Sharia Bill was prepared according to the recommendations of the Islamic Ideology Council. Chairman Agha said the media would be bound not to show or produce anti-Sharia programmes and people found guilty of violating this restriction would be punished. There would be a ban on anti-Sharia business practices, as well as on means of earning that the bill considered illegal, he added.

Mr Agha said MPAs and other political leaders would be contacted for their approval to the bill in parliament. He said the education system would be reformed to develop peoples’ personality and knowledge instead of putting them through a job-oriented system. He said minorities’ rights would be protected and they would be free to follow their beliefs. He said all Muslims would be advised to pray regularly. There would be a prayer break in offices and all necessary arrangements in offices etc for prayers en masse.

Talking about tribal feuds, he said jirgas (tribal councils) of clerics, tribal leaders and law experts would be formed in Balochistan.

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