Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi telephoned top religious scholars of various schools of thought and consulted with them about Tahaffuz-e-Bunyad-e-Islam Bill 2020 that empowered provincial Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) to visit and inspect any printing press, publication house, bookstore and confiscate any book, before or after printing if it against national interest and against Islam.

Pervaiz Elahi telephoned Allama Sajid Naqvi, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, Mufti Ragheb Naeemi, Pir Amin Al Hasnat Shah, Syed Sabteen Haider Sabzwari, Syed Safdar Shah, former MPA Syed Taqlid Raza Shah of Talagang, Allama Gulfam Hashmi.

Under the Protection of Islam Bill, it is mandatory that “the blessed name of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) shall be preceded by the title Khatam-an-Nabiyyin or Khatam-un-Nabiyyin followed by ‘Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam’ (darood) in Arabic text.”

Pervaiz Elahi said that all the pious wives (mothers of the believers) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Ahl-e-Bayt (AS) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) must be written with Razi Allah Tala Anhu or Aleh-e-Salam.

It is pertinent to note that on 22 July Punjab Assembly passed the Tahaffuz-e-Bunyad-e-Islam Bill 2020 which gave the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) powers to visit and inspect any printing press, publication house, bookstore and confiscate any book, before or after printing.

Pervaiz Elahi told the religious scholars, “We have sacrificed everything for the honour of Ahl-e-Bayt. For the first time in the history of Pakistan, all the assemblies, including Punjab, unanimously ordered the confiscation of the books which insulted the honour of the Ahlul Bayt including Hazrat Ali (AS).”

“This is a practical proof of our love for Ahl-e-Bait. We are the slaves of Ahl-e-Bait and all the companions,” Speaker Punjab Assembly said.

“The honour of the last of the Prophets, Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him), all the Righteous Caliphs, the Mothers of the Believers, the Ahl-e-Bait and the Companions of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) cannot be insulted in the presence of ourselves and our coming generations,” Pervaiz Elahi said.

He further said that The Protection of Islam Bill will further strengthen the unity and love among all the religious sects.