NA unanimously approves Khatm-i-Naboowat clause in original form
The bill was presented by Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid in the House.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – National Assembly (NA) on Thursday has unanimously approved oath related to Khatm-i-Naboowat in nomination papers in its original form.
The Elections Act 2017 was presented by Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid in the House that was accepted by the participants.
Speaking on the occasion, Law Minister Zahid Hamid said the declaration contained in the nominations papers has been restored in its original form through the amendment in the Act. He clarified that nobody can think of impacting in any manner the provision regarding the finality of prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).
Zahid Hamid pointed out that the Election Bill 2017 was framed by a joint Parliamentary Committee, which held about one hundred and twenty-five meetings in three years to reach the consensus document. He said Parliamentary Leaders again held a meeting yesterday in the Chamber of the Speaker to bring amendments in the Act to restore the oath in nomination papers in its original form.
Former prime minister Zafarullah Jamali demanded to take action against the one who amended the Khatm-i-Naboowat oath. He said that a war has been started between the government and judiciary for no reason.
NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq advised the members to only express their views on the bill and refrain from making it controversial.
Earlier, Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday accepted that a ‘clerical or technical mistake’ was made in Khatm-i-Naboowat clause which would be restored in its original form.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi also demanded to bring clause 203 in its original form.
Chief of Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rashid had also challenged Elections Act 2017 in Supreme Court (SC), stating that the Constitution has been distorted to safe one person.
In the form-A, the words “I solemnly swear” were replaced with “I believe” and the clause relating to Khatm-i-Naboowat is not made applicable to non-Muslim candidates however, the clause has been restored in its original format now.
