Controversial amendment: No minister clearly named in Raja Zafarul Haq committee report
Raja Zafar-ul-Haq report recommends "action must be taken against those responsible"
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Dunya News has obtained a copy of the Raja Zafar-ul-Haq report in which two federal ministers have been vaguely mentioned regarding the controversial amendment in election reforms bill while none clearly held responsible.
The report suggests “action must be taken against those responsible”, adding that “people are expecting action against those who changed the affirmation and caused this problem”.
According to the details, no one has been clearly blamed and held responsible for the alleged exclusion of anti-blasphemy clause as opposed to the claims of the opposition parties and religious groups who protested countrywide and accused Law Minister Zahid Hamid of backing the ‘clerical error’.
Photo: Important content from the Raja Zafar-ul-Haq report regarding the alleged controversial amendment in Khatm-e-Nabuwwat declaration
Draft of The Elections (Amendment) Act 2017 was first presented in Senate. Only JUI-F Senator Maulana Hafiz Hamdullah raised concern on the bill. He had demanded of restoring the old language of the declaration. It is stated that Hamdullah objected on the “change in the language of the solemn affirmation” in Khatm-e-Nabuwwat declaration.
Zafar-ul-Haq says in the report that he too backed the stance of Hafiz Hamdullah and agreed with his demand. His committee received the original draft of the bill and speeches in the Upper House. They also reviewed the amendment in the bill.
It was mentioned that all political parties in the National Assembly only raised concern on Section 203 during the session after its Senate approval. Hafiz Hamdullah thanked the ruling PML-N for restoring the original declaration, the report reads.
The committee to probe the controversial amendment was chaired by Raja Zafar-ul-Haq and contained PML-N Senator Mushahid Ullah and Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal.
Faizabad sit-in called off
Leaders of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) have announced to end their 22-day long protest at Faizabad Interchange in Islamabad after the successful agreement with the federal government as a result of which Zahid Hamid resigned from holding the office as Law Minister.
On the assurance of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, we are calling off the sit-in," Khadim Hussain Rizvi told the crowd of around 2,500 demonstrators, who have occupied a main highway leading into the capital.
PM accepts Zahid Hamid’s resignation
Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi accepted resignation of Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid. The minister tendered his resignation to normalize the situation disrupted by Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah‘s (TLYR) protesters, who occupied a main highway leading into the federal capital since November 6.
Zahid Hamid said that he has a firm belief in the finality of Prophethood (PBUH) and did not believe that anything he had done was wrong. After the operation against Faizabad sit-in, more than 25 people had carried out an attack at the residence of Hamid and broke the windows by throwing stones. Luckily, Hamid and his family were not present in their house at that moment.
Islamabad operation
Ministry of Interior had ordered the security operation against the Faizabad sit-in after repeated failed talks with the religious leaders. The district administration in Islamabad had issued final warning to sit-in protestors in Faizabad to clear the main road on Friday and let them implement the order ruled by the Islamabad High Court to clear Faizabad sit-in protest within three days.
Over 200 people sustained injuries while at least 6 people lost their lives, mostly policemen, in the operation carried out by police, Rangers and FC personnel that triggered nationwide protests against the federal government. The residences of government ministers had been targeted by the agitated persons who demanded resignation of Hamid.
The federal government had also ordered temporary closure of private news media as well as social media that remained for more than 24 hours. Social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter were inaccessible in the country before the government restored these services.
Weeks long protest
Khadim Hussain Rizvi and his supporters from the TLY had paralysed the capital since November 6 with just 2,000 demonstrators, enraging millions of commuters and the judiciary who blasted the government for hesitating to act against them.
The government had called on the military to intervene to restore law after police and paramilitaries bungled an attempt to dislodge the protesters. But the army had still not publicly responded to the government s call, suggesting the authorities to settle the matter through dialogue.
