Ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) on Sunday described the Hasba Bill being enacted by Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) government in NWFP Assembly as a violation of the Constitution and threatened using legal channels to block its implementation in the province.
The Hasba Act could not be enforced in the NWFP in any case because it would cause serious detriment to the federation, PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain told the journalists here a day ahead of NWFP government's plan to move the bill in the provincial assembly.
The proposed Hasba Law is designed to establish the offices of religious watchdogs both at district and tehsil levels parallel to normal judicial system. "Modus operandi for enactment of a law is alike across the country. Constitutionally, a law cannot be enacted and enforced in one province only," Shujaat Hussain said.
"And if it is allowed to do so, other provinces would also follow the suit and start introducing 'similar' legislation, thus creating unrest and chaos in the country and weakening the federation", he added.
Two days back, Shujaat proposed to refer the bill to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) for its revision in the light of prescribed Islamic mechanism of enacting laws. Shujaat said since the CII had raised objections on the Hasba Act, the NWFP government ought to refer it to the council for advice, instead of getting it approved from the provincial assembly.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Muhammad Ali Durrani also spoke against the proposed bill and blamed the NWFP government for enacting a law to favour those they held dear.