Islamabad, the 4th May, 2017. A meeting of the Standing Committee on M/o Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony met today at 10:00 am in the Committee Room of the Ministry of  Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Islamabad, under the Chairmanship of Hafiz Abdul Kareem, MNA to discuss the following agenda:-

i)   Reconsideration of the Education of the Holy Quran according to Recitation by Sighting and with Translation, Learning by Heart and with Correct Pronunciation Bill, 2014 (moved by Sahibzada Tariqullah, MNA);

ii)  The National Commission for Minority Bill, 2015 (moved by Ms. Belum Hasnain, MNA);

iii) The National Commission for Minority Rights Bill,  2015 (moved by Mr. Lal Chand Malhi, MNA);

iv)  The Pakistan Minorities Rights Commission Bill, 2016 (moved by Mr. Sanjay Perwani MNA);

v)   Detailed Briefing on Hajj arrangements on Hajj, 2017; and

vi)  How much new Tour Operators have been given the Hajj Quota during this year.

2.     The Committee reconsidered the Bill titled, “ The education of Holy Quran according to Recitation by Sighting and with Translation, Learning by Heart and with Correct Pronunciation Bill, 2014 (moved by Sahibzada Tariq Ullah, MNA)  and approved in the following form as vetted by the Law Division:-

“The Holy Quran (Education and Propagation, Recitation by Sighting, Translation, Learning by Heart and Correct Pronunciation) Act, 2017”

3.     The Committee discussed the Minority Rights Bill titled, “ The National Commission for Minority Rights Act, 2015” which was moved by Mr. Lal Chand Malhi, MNA.  Mr. Tariq Christopher Qaiser, MNA recommended to increase the members of the Commission to make it useful, effective and give representation to all the minority communities of Pakistan. He also suggested to give the rights to the minorities to elect their representatives directly.

4.     The Committee constituted its Sub-Committee under the convenership of Mr. Ali Muhammad Khan, MNA including three MNAs Mr. Lal Chand Malhi, Mr. Tariq C. Qaiser and Sahibzada Muhammad Yaqub to discuss the minority rights bill 2015 in its meetings and give their suggestions to the main Committee.

5.     The Committee also discussed the Private Member’s Bill titled,”The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill, 2016” (moved by Ms. Kishwer Zehra, MNA in the meeting and rejected it unanimously.

6.     Then the Committee was given comprehensive briefing by the Ministry on the Hajj Arrangements.   

7.     The Committee appreciated the working performance of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and recommended to resolve the issues of Hujjaj as well as the Ministry on priority basis.

8.     The meeting was attended by Begum Majeda Wayne, Malik Abdul Ghafar Dogar, Syed Imran Ahmed Shah, Sahibzada Faiz-ul-Hassan, Mr. Bhawan Das, Ms. Kiran Imran Dar, Mr, Ramesh Lal, Mr. Tariq C Qaiser,  Syed Amir Ali Shah Jamote Mr. Ali Muhammad Khan, Mr. Lal Chand Malhi, Mr. Muhammad Kamal, Ms. Shahida Akhtar Ali, Sahibzada Muhammad Yaqub, Mr. Bismillah Khan, Ms. Shagufta Jumani, Molvi Agha Muhammad Mr. Pir Bux Junejo, a mover of the bill Ms. Kishwer Zehra, MNA and Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony besides senior officers from the Ministry.