Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: There is no need for the Council of Islamic Ideology to function (CII) as Pakistan already has a parliament and Federal Shariat Court, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Farhatullah Babar said Sunday.

The top Islamic body’s latest overture that husbands could ‘lightly’ beat their wives, sparked debate over the legitimacy of the Council of Islamic Ideology.

“If a husband wants her wife to mend her ways then he needs to advise her. If she refuses then stop talking to her … stop sharing a bed with her, and if things do not change, get a bit strict,” CII chief Sherani told News Lens Pakistan.

The Government of Punjab had passed a women’s rights protection bill, while efforts are on to table for similar bills in other provincial assemblies such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Farhatullah Babar, in his exclusive chat with News Lens Pakistan, said: “The council has no powers to overturn any law on the basis of whether it meets the Islamic provisions or not.”

Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research (CSCR) outlined the Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act (PPWVA) 2016. The women protection act was passed by the Punjab Assembly on February 24, 2016.

The prime objective of the PPWVA is to provide justice and to protect women from all type of violence in the province where six women are murdered or attempted to murder, eight are raped, 11 battered and assaulted and 32 are abducted on a daily basis, the CSCR stated.

Commenting on the statement of Sherani, Babar said the allocated Rs100 million funds for the CII should be transferred to National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) instead.

“The CII has no constitutional role to play and be ceased to exist,” the senator remarked, recalling that the country has already the National Commission of Human Rights (NCHR) as a powerful, independent and autonomous body.

In addition, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has condemned the CII recommendations that Islam allows light beating of wives.

In a statement on May 27, the HRCP stated, “As much as HRCP wanted not to dignify with any comment the ridiculous CII recommendations regarding ‘light beating’ of women, we think it is imperative that every right-respecting person must condemn such counsel unreservedly.”

Nafreen Azhar, a member of HRCP, said there is no need of the council in presence of parliament. “The CII was established for a definite period, which has expired and thus there is no need for the body to keep functioning,” she said without elaborating that deadline.

“We’re spending huge taxpayers’ money on this body, which is of no use. Because of its statements, intolerance is spreading in the society instead,” Nafreen told News Lens Pakistan.

“There is already another body called Federal Shariat Court which has the power to strike down a law, so there is no need for the council to give an advice,” Babar said.

“Why should the public money be spent on a body which has lost its utility and it is no longer constitutionally required,” he said, adding that time ripe for to demand disbandment of the Council of Islamic Ideology.

HRCP member Nafreen said her organisation fully endorses Senator Babar to disband the council, which is an additional burden on taxpayers with no active role.

“They have created a sort of environment in the country, which is against the women,” Babar remarked. He said that these are the reasons that violence and crimes against women folk are on the rise in the country.

When asked whether PPP would adopt legal measures to disband the council, he said that Pakistan People’s Party right now may not be in a position to accomplish that but his party with other political parties and civil society would create an environment in which people start seriously questioning the desirability of continuing with this institution.

The CII is largely seen as a saviour by common people when it ruled that indirect taxes are against the teachings of Islam.

Maulana Jamaluddin, a Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F lawmaker, said the country and nation are in dire need of the CII, which is a torch-bearer for all Muslims.

Hamid Wazir, a roadside vendor, said that the CII has served no purpose since its creation but it is only known for sparking controversies therefore it should be banned.

The record of the council reveals that the CII was established as Advisory Council of Islamic Ideology on August 1, 1962 under Article 199 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The constitution states there shall be an Advisory Council of Islamic Ideology with its members’ strength should not less than five and not more than 12, as the president may determine.

It further says that the functions of the council shall be – (A) to make recommendations to the central government and the provincial governments as to means of enabling and encouraging the Muslims of Pakistan to order their lives in all respects in accordance with the principles and concepts of Islam.

(B) To advise the National Assembly, a provincial assembly, the president or a governor on any question referred to the council under Article 8, that is to say, a question as to whether a proposed law is or is not repugnant to the teachings and requirements of Islam.

Currently, the CII has nine members including a female, and they hold meeting to debate any issue when it is referred by parliament or other institutions, the CII record shows.

Sherani had earlier told News Lens Pakistan in an interview that the council cannot review the law on its own. “Our mandate to review the law begins when parliament seeks our advice under article 229.”

This article originally appeared in News Lens and has been reproduced with permission