The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice Tuesday discussed amendments to the oath of office for members of Pakistan's religious minorities and deferred the matter until the opinion of the Council of Islamic Ideology is received on the issue. The committee members discussed the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2017, (Amendment of Article 255. Introduced by Senator Azam Khan Swati, it seeks amendment in the oath of office for the religious minorities.
Swati noted that in their oaths members of religious minorities are made to swear to guard the Islamic ideology, which is unfair. The status of Pakistan's regional languages also figured on the occasion. Some representatives of the religious minorities were present at the meeting and they informed the committee members about their views on the oath of office under Article 255.
Bahai representative Mehardar said that since his community believes in the oneness of God it has no objection to the text of the oath under Article 255 of the Constitution. Hindu community representative Ravi Dawani said that his community believes in the Panchayat system, and has had objection to the present text of the oath.
He said that in 90 percent of such oaths in 40 different countries people are required to pledge loyalties to the country concerned, not a religion. The secretary of the Council of Islamic Ideology explained that a meeting of the council could not be held due to the absence of its chairman, which is why the matter regarding oath of office for religious minorities could not be discussed.
Discussing a public petition moved by Rukhsana Qamber, the committee members recommended that the government abolish Section 9A of the Area Study Centre Act, 1975, as it weakens the centre's independence and autonomy. The committee also discussed bills to give Pakistan's regional languages the status of national languages. It deferred the matter until the next meeting.