Revolt in PML over Shariah Bill

ISLAMABAD, Sept 18 (PTI) — A revolt brewing within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) has further derailed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Islamisation plans forcing the government to postpone for the time being voting on the controversial Shariah Bill in the National Assembly.

The evening session of the National Assembly, Lower House of Parliament, could not be held on Thursday as Sharif faced open revolt at marathon meeting of the PML Parliamentary Party meeting which continued for nearly six hours amidst high drama and a senior party member throwing his resignation to the Prime Minister.

A group of 30 party MPs also threatened to resign on the issue, media reports said.

"The government is not in a haste to pass it (the Shariah Bill)," Sharif was quoted as saying by media reports after the meeting late last night.

Reports also said that the government had decided to form an internal committee headed by Religious Affairs Minister Raja Zafrul Haque to hear and register apprehensions of the ruling party members over the Bill and create a consensus over it.

Opposition to the 15th Constitution Amendment Bill (popularly known as Shariah Bill) within the PML started surfacing as the ruling party members were given indication that voting on the Bill would be held on Friday morning and a number of senior members wanted to express their opinion on the Bill in the parliamentary meeting first.

But the meeting turned out to be highly stormy when some pro-Bill members pointed out that a senior party member Mian Khurshid Kasuri was lobbying against the Bill.

This led to the Prime Minister making some harsh comments against Kasuri reportedly saying, "it surprises me that you are openly lobbying against the Shariah Bill. If you have established differences with us, you better oppose us by resigning from the seat."

This was an enough indication for Kasuri that his action may be dealt with by a new anti-defection law which prohibits party members from differing with the party leadership. He immediately wrote his resignation letter handed it over to the Prime Minister.

Media reports quoting PML members said Kasuri’s action further worsened the situation as a group of nearly 30 party members also wanted to resign. The situation was, however, saved from going out of control by some senior party members who urged Sharif to return Kasuri’s resignation letter and pacify other members.

Another member said, "this Bill has divided us rather than creating unity."

A clear indication of the opposition to the Bill within PML ranks was apparent during the morning session of the National Assembly during discussions on the Bill when veteran parliamentarian from Sindh, Hamid Jatoi, said, "how can I be expected to sign this as it seeks to take away powers from the provinces and make Senate powerless? Please do not act in haste," he pleaded.

"Already you have lost half of country (creation of Bangladesh). This Bill will be the last nail in the coffin. You had boasted that Pakistan would be turned into Europe if we get rid of Bengalis. See for yourself the Europe that you have created," Jatoi was quoted as saying.

UNI: In the meeting, Mr Nawaz Sharif assured the party members that he was trying to establish contacts with the opposition leaders, he, however, ruled out a referendum to seek public opinion on the issue.

Mr Abdul Hameed Jatoi, a veteran parliamentarian from Sindh, who is the father of Mr Liaquat Ali Jatoi, Chief Minister of Sindh, was first to oppose the Bill, he said, the Muslims of South Asia have already been divided in three parts, one in India the other in Bangladesh and the third in Pakistan.

He said, "we had made a mistake before the partition. But time has now come to save the country."