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Thursday, March 28, 2024

NA committee recommends to confiscate blasphemous books, take action against importers

Member of the National Assembly (NA) standing committee on religious affairs Tariq Bashir Cheema said the sale of blasphemous books about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), his companions and Ahl-e-Bait printed by foreign publishers is continuing all over the country including federal capital. Such books should be confiscated and the action should be taken against the importers of these books.

National Assembly (NA) standing committee on religious affairs has strongly condemned the publication of blasphemous books on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions at international level besides recommending to federal and all the four provincial governments to confiscate these books and take action against the booksellers involved in importing these books.

Committee held a meeting on Friday chaired by Maulana Asad Mahmood at the ministry of religious affairs.

Minority MNA Ramesh Kumar told the committee that a parliamentary committee has been constituted on the issue of forced conversion. The bill in this regard has been presented before this committee therefore the debate on the issue should be postponed.

Members of the committee also expressed resentment over the availability of blasphemous books with major booksellers in the country advising a complete ban

The chairman committee after soliciting the opinion of members of the committee postponed the debate over the bill till parliamentary committee recommendations are received.

Secretary committee told that MNA Amir Navid Jiwa had presented a bill on forced conversion which was sent to Council for Islamic Ideology (CII) and its recommendations have been received. Through these recommendations bill has been opposed, therefore this bill is rejected.

Federal minister Tariq Bashir Cheema said the sale of blasphemous books about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), his companions and Ahl-e-Bait printed by foreign publishers is continuing all over the country including federal capital.

This act is hurting the feelings of Muslims. Such books should be confiscated and the action should be taken against the importers of these books.

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The chairman committee inquired from the ministry of religious affairs about the presence of any cell operating in the ministry which could review these books.

Secretary religious affairs told the committee about the presence of a cell to deal with matters related to insult and blasphemous caricatures, drawings and obscene material on social media is functioning in the ministry which informs PTA about all such websites. However, no cell is working on books.

The other members of the committee also expressed resentment over the availability of blasphemous books with major booksellers in the country advising a complete ban should be slapped forthwith over the sale of such books and action be taken against those involved in importing and publishing such books in the country.

The members of the committee also proposed their concerns to be conveyed to the embassies of the respective countries in this regard.

The committee directed the ministry of religious affairs to issue letters to the federal and all four provincial governments on this matter forthwith for initiating action against the importers of these books besides stopping the sale of these books.

 

The chairman of the committee while informing the Ministry of religious Affairs about the reservations expressed by the people on social media regarding deletion of the finality of the prophet-hood column from Hajj form, said finality of prophet-hood is a sensitive issue and ministry concerned should be cautious about it.

Secretary ministry of religious affairs said that the column of the finality of prophethood has neither been deleted nor anybody can think about it.

The applicants who succeed in Hajj balloting will have to fill the complete form including a column of belief on the finality of prophet-hood.

Read more: Social media defends Imran Khan against libelous blasphemy charges

Minister for religious affairs said he was unaware of the ministry decision about the deletion of the column of the finality of prophethood from the initial form of Hajj and when he came to know about it, he reprimanded the concerned authorities. The column of belief on the finality of prophethood has been made part of the initial form immediately.

Chairman Committee said Khatm-e-Nabuwwat is a sensitive issue and the ministry should take utmost care in this matter.