Speaker directs to lift books containing blasphemous material

Lahore : Speaker Punjab Assembly Ch Parvez Elahi has said that books containing blasphemous material Holy Prophet (ﷺ), Ummul Momineen Syeda Ayesha Siddiqua Tayyaba RA and other companions of the Holy Prophet including foreign authoress Lesley Hazelton’s “The First Muslim” and “After The Prophet” and Pakistani writer Mazharul Haq’s “Short History of Islam” be immediately confiscated from the market and sale of these be banned, material against the Prophets, Ahle Bait and Sahaba Karam not only hurt our sentiments but it also a severe attack on our faith, concerned department should produce notification about confiscation, ban on publication and sale of these three books during current session on next Friday in the House.

He expressed these views while presiding over the Punjab Assembly session here today (Friday).

Punjab Assembly session was held in the Faletti’s under Speaker Ch Parvez Elahi’s chair. During the session Punjab Assembly Special Committee No 6 presented report about resolution of Provincial Mines and Minerals Hafiz Ammar Yasir referred to the committee during last session in which it was recommended that that these said books contained such filthy blasphemous material about the Almighty Allah’s messengers (Prophets) particularly Khatamul Mursaleen Hazrat Muhammad (ﷺ), Ummul Monineen Syeda Ayesha Siddiqua Tayyaba Tahira, Hazrat Syed Usman Ghani RA and Sher-e-Khuda Syedna Ali (Radi Allah Anhum) which no Muslim can possibly tolerate.

Issuing a unanimous order on behalf of the entire House, Ch Parvez Elahi said that these books be confiscated forthwith and their sale be banned.

On this occasion Provincial Law Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja, Opposition leader Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, MPAs Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Syed Hassan Murtaza and Mohammad Moavia also spoke and appreciated this step of Speaker Ch Parvez Elahi. House unanimously approved this recommendation and Speaker Punjab Assembly Ch Parvez Elahi ordered that the concerned department should produce the notification about confiscation of three books, publication and sale during current session next Friday in the House.