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Nine members are going to retire on March 1
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PM is the competent authority on the matter
By Obaid Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: Influential religious scholars and government functionaries from across the country are vying for the membership of Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) as nine members are going to retire next month, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Upon completing their term of three years, nine members from different schools of thought will retire on March 1. However, influential religious scholars have started lobbying to get CII’s membership.
According to sources, nine members, including Dr Noor Ahmed Shahtaaz, Sahibzada Zahid Mehmood Qasmi, Muhammad Abdullah, Justice (r) Raza Khan, Maulana Imdad Ullah, Justice (r) Manzoor Hussain Gillani, Allama Syed Iftikhar Hussain Naqvi, Allama Arif Hussain Wahidi and Ali Muhammad Abu Turab will retire next month.
Since the membership offers a lucrative salary package along with perks and privileges, many scholars have started lobbying, including Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Allama Tahir Ashrafi, Wifaqul Madaris al-Arabi Secretary General Qari Hanif Jalandhri, renowned scholar Dr Javed Ahmed Ghamidi and renowned female scholar Dr Farhat Hashmi.
It is worth mentioning that Allama Tahir Ashrafi was a member of the council from 2008-2013. However, he had a difference with the then chairman Maulana Muhammad Sherani. Allama Tahir Ashrafi, however, claimed that he was not interested in becoming a member of the council.
Similarly, Qari Hanif Jalandhri claimed that he never approached anyone to get the lucrative membership.
“I will think when I receive an offer,” he said.
The sources said that membership of Dr Sameeha Raheel Qazi could be extended as the current chairman wanted the presence of a female in CII’s affairs.
It is worth mentioning that Sameeha Raheel Qazi is the daughter of late JI leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed and she was appointed as a member of the council when Maulana Sherani was the chairman.
The council is a constitutional body, which offers non-binding recommendations to the parliament on the compatibility of laws with Sharia. However, the CII slots had been used to accommodate political appointees.
The government recently appointed new members, including Maulana Muhammad Raghib Hussain Naeemi, Dr Khurshid Nadeem, Pir Roohul Husnain Mueen and former Dawah Academy director Professor Sajidur Rehman, who is the brother-in-law of Leader of House in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq.
Dr Hashmi is the head of Al-Huda International Foundation and has a good reputation in the religious circles.
It should be noted that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will give a final nod after Ministry of Law and Justice sends a summary of candidates. Sources said that Ministry of Law and Justice secretary will finalise the list next month and will send it to PM Abbasi who is the competent authority on the matter.
CII Chairman Dr Qilba Ayaz also called a meeting on March 1 in which several issues will be discussed and a farewell will be given to the retiring members.
