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Pakistani lower house adopts Islamisation bill

Pakistani law-makers took a giant step today toward creating a new Islamic order in this economically troubled nation of 140 million people despite opposition cries of ''shame, shame.''

The National Assembly or powerful lawmaking lower house of parliament voted 151 to 16 to pass a constitutional amendment giving the federal government sweeping powers to interpret and impose laws based on it interpretation of the Muslim holy book, the Quran.

But before the amendment can become law it requires a two-thirds majority in the senate or powerful upper house of parliament, something Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief may have difficulty acquiring.

While his ruling Pakistan Muslim League controls two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, it does not have the votes to carry the amendment in the senate.

However, some political analysts said Sharief may seek a vote in a joint sitting of the two houses, where he would likely be able to muster the required number of votes.

The Opposition, led by former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, warned that in the name of Islam the government can under this amendment overturn laws passed by Pakistan's four provincial governments.

Naveed Qamar, a spokesman for Bhutto's party in parliament, warned that the amendment supersedes the Constitution of Pakistan.

Asfandyar Wali Khan, a member of the Awami National Party and a strong opponent of the amendment, said it effectively meant ''the abrogation'' of the Constitution.

In a surprising move, law-makers withdrew a clause in the amendment that promised the country's minorities that their ''personal law, religious freedom, traditions or customs . . . And status as citizens'' would be protected.

There was no debate on the decision to delete this clause.

Members of Pakistan's minority religious groups have strongly condemned the amendment warning that it could be used to discriminate against non-Muslims, something the government already promised would not happen.

But minority religious groups and human rights groups already have fought strenuously to have other Islamic laws already on the statutes, like a blasphemy law, repealed.

Opponents of the amendment have warned that it will give strength to militant members of radical Islamic groups in Pakistan, who will try to force their interpretation of Islam on lawmakers.

Bhutto's party as well as other Opposition parties have warned that the amendment can pave the way for a strict Islamic regime, not unlike neighbouring Pakistan where Taliban religious militia rule with an iron hand.

However, Information Minister Mushahid Hussein earlier said his government was a ''liberal Muslim'' government that opposed fundamentalism.

Outside parliament today, representatives of women's groups condemned the bill and waved placards saying: ''Defeat this bill... Protect women. We have rights.''

Inside the grand marble legislature, Qamar said already the government ministers have questioned the Islamic credentials of those who oppose the bill.

Khan said, ''We don't need any certificate to be a Muslim, this bill is going to put you into total confusion.''

Meanwhile, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has warned of a ''bloody revolution'' in Pakistan if the present ''status quoist'' system was not changed.

In a long interview to the Urdu daily Jang, Khan, who heads the Insaf Party, accused Pakistan Peoples Party leader Benazir Bhutto and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief of plunging Pakistan into anarchy. During their tenures foreign loans increased many times and so did the number of bank defaulters. There has been open ''loot and theft'' in the country without any check since 1988, he said.

Imran said Sharief's family, which had only one factory now owned 40 and was now building a palace with public money, he said, adding yet he (Sharief) had introduced the Shariat bill in the National Assembly to make the Quran and Sunnah the supreme laws in Pakistan. Imran Khan said this in fact is a ''shararati'' (mischievous) bill which will demolish the positions of parliament, judiciary, the Constitution and ultimately the federation.

UNI

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