Parliament approved the National Commission for the Rights of Minorities Bill during a joint session. A total of 160 members supported the motion and 79 opposed it. The session faced loud protests from opposition lawmakers throughout the proceedings.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the bill protects minority rights and does not benefit “prisoner number 804.” He noted that the bill clearly defines minorities and follows a 2014 Supreme Court order. However, opposition members chanted slogans, forcing the speaker and the minister to wear headphones as the clause-by-clause approval began.
Read more: NA speaker vows to act as bulwark against ‘bids’ to weaken parliament
Earlier, the speaker opened the joint session, and the law minister introduced the motion to take up the bill. He said the commission is meant for non-Muslims and urged lawmakers not to politicize the issue. Yet JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman warned that such laws could be misused. He also questioned why Parliament was moving in this direction.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar pointed out that seven laws were listed for passage. He said minorities are equal citizens but insisted that no law against Islam can be allowed. Meanwhile, the law minister assured the House that no legislation can contradict the Quran and Sunnah. He added that the government had accepted JUI-F’s demand to remove Clause 35.
Read more: Parliament clears most clauses of 27th amendment
JUI leader Kamran Murtaza said his party does not oppose minority rights. However, he argued that two points in the bill were highly objectionable. He warned that the bill could weaken the first law concerning Ahmadis if passed unchanged. Therefore, he pressed the government to delete the disputed clause before the final vote.