Jamaat-e-Islami has demanded reconstitution of the Islamic Ideology Council of Pakistan (IICP) with representation of all religious schools of though (Fiqa), as the present IICP was constituted by former President General (Retd) Pervaiz Musharraf to promote so called enlightenment and moderation.
Naib Amir Jamaat-i-Islami Liaquat Baloch said here on Tuesday that General (Retd) Musharraf did not observe legal and constitutional requirements for its formation, neither all the members were nominated nor all the schools of thought were given representation, as enshrined by the Constitution, that is why this council was unable to perform its constitutional role.
Baloch argued that IICP is making controversial recommendations to the government, which have been rejected by all religious schools of thought/sects, and most of the political parties. He referred to a IICP recommendation that "a law should be enacted that if a woman demands divorce in black and white, then the husband is bound to grant the same within ninety days. In case of his failure to do so the divorce will become automatically effective at the expiry of the stipulated period unless the wife withdraws her demand."
Baloch contended that in this recommendation, injunctions of the Holy Quran and Sunnah have been clearly negated. The Holy Quran says "If you fear a breach of marriage between a man and his wife, appoint one arbiter from his family and another from hers; if they wish to reconcile, Allah will create a way of reconciliation between them." The Holy Quran advises reconciliation between the spouses, where as the Council desires to separate them at the demand of wife only.
However, quoting various Hadis he said, Islam has granted a right to the wife to get divorce after putting her case before a court and she will have to prove that the circumstances exist for no other way out but the divorce. "Unjust and biased aspect of the council's recommendation is that it is granting the right of divorce to the wife, without having a recourse to the court, whereas the husband will be bound to go to the court for taking back his belongings, granted to the wife" he argued.
Baloch said Allah says in the Holy Quran "it is not fitting for a believing man or a believing women to have an option in their affairs when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Rasool, and whoever disobeys Allah and His Rasool has indeed strayed into a wrong path." The JI leader said this type of recommendation (for divorce) can in no way be acceptable for the Muslims of this country. "The right course for the Council is to withdraw these recommendations which are contrary to Islam and apologise to the Muslims, whose feelings have been hurt by these recommendations and not to repeat such a practice in future"he added.