Naat recitation to start NA session

By Khawar Ghumman | 12/16/2015 12:00:00 AM

ISLAMABAD: Starting on Wednesday, the National Assembly will
open its daily session with a Naat recitation. Prior to this, only
verses from the Holy Quran were recited to begin proceedings of
the house.
On private members day, retired Capt Mohammad Safdar sought
amendments in the rules of procedure and conduct of business of
the National Assembly through a motion.
While presenting the motion, Mr Safdar stated that love for
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a part of every Muslim`s faith and
mandatory recitation of Naat would add to the respect of the
house. Members of the lower house of parliament voted
unanimously in favour of the amendments to rule numbers 48, 69
and 112, which, following the house`s endorsement, stood
amended.
After the passing of the amendments, Mr Safdar a PML-N MNA
from Mansehra and the prime minister`s sonin-law was showered
with praise by fellow lawmakers from various parties.
There were, however, a few voices of concern. Their reservations
were linked to Muslim sentiments, rather than those of minority
communities. A member ofthe federal cabinet sought the careful
selection of Naats, to ensure that their recitation did not affect the
sentiments of any sect.
Minister of National Health Services (NHS) Saira Afzal Tarar
commended the decision, but added: `I suggest setting up a
committee of the house to select Naats for recitation which do not
affect anybody`s religious sentiments.
She also recommended the recitation of one Hadith, with
translation, on a daily basis. She claimed this measure would help
lawmakers learn more about Islam and the Prophet`s way of life.
Dr Darshan, an occupant of a reserved seat for minorities, said he
supported the amendments, and added: `I [would] like to remind
this house that the Prophet always gave foremost importance to
the rights of minorities.

Addressing the speaker, Dr Darshan said he wanted to bring the

house`s attention to an early 19th century Hindu temple in the
Haripur district, which is being demolished by land grabbers.
`I ask the chair to please convey my concern to the federal
minister for religious affairs and interfaith harmony, Sardar
Mohammad Yousaf, who hails from the neighbouring district of
Abbottabad, to look into the issue,` he said.
JUI-F`s Maulana Mohammad Khan Sherani said that everybody
welcomed the recitation of Naat, but also said that: `We can
express our real love for the Holy Prophet by implementing his
Sunnah.
Referring to Article 277, which states that `all existing laws shall
be broughtin conformity with the Injunctions of Islam as laid down
in the Holy Quran and Sunnah, and no law shall be enacted which
is repugnant to such Injunctions`, Mr Sherani, who also heads the
Council of Islamic Ideology, asl
In an impassioned speech, PTPs Ali Mohammad Khan praised Mr
Safdar for bringing in such an `important amendment`,
particularly during Rabiul Awwal. `By taking this measure, this
house has moved towards making Pakistan as it was envisioned
by... Quaide-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah,` he said. A member of
the media who was present in the media gallery said that, Pakistan
being a Muslim-majority country, no one could think of opposing
such a move, but questioned how many lawmakers would make it
to the house every day to listen to the recitation of Naat in the
morning.
`Alongside declaring recitation of Naat mandatory, the house
should also make amendments in its rules which increase the
attendance of its lawmakers, which, since the present government
has taken over the charge, has gone from bad to worse.
The media official added that it would be interesting to see how
regularly Mr Safdar, the mover of the amendments, attended the
proceedings from now on, because he did not have the healthiest
attendance record. Recently, his party issued him a notice for
missing the election of the National Assembly speaker.
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