Maulana Sheerani’s appointment as CII chief challenged

The petition- filed by a former lecturer of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) Moeen Hayat Cheema who is currently teaching at an Australian university, – argued that an MNA becomes disqualified if he works for another government body in addition to his National Assembly membership.

It continued to insist that since the CII is a government institution; Sheerani could not have been made its chairman as he was also an elected MNA when the appointment was made.

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Maulana Sheerani, also a member of the National Assembly from NA-264 in Balochistan, was chosen as CII chairman in 2013.

The petition has challenged Sheerani’s appointment, terming it was against the Constitution of Pakistan. It said Sheerani did not even meet the academic and professional requirements for CII chairmanship.

The CII has a constitutional mandate to advise legislatures on the basis of Sharia and the appointment of Sheerani as CII chairman is not valid as he also lacks the required education and credentials to take such a crucial position, it said.

The petition said the constitution demands that all members of the CII must possess an understanding of the philosophy and principles of Islam or an understanding of the political, legal or economic problems of Pakistan.

Also Read: CII bill prohibits women interaction with ‘na-mehrams’ at offices, recreational spots

Sheerani’s appointment was not on merit, in fact, was just a political move by the federal government to conciliate the Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), it said adding that the court must declare Sheerani’s appointment as invalid from the beginning.

The petition against the CII chief has been filed when the council is being heavily criticised, within and outside Pakistan, for allowing husbands to ‘lightly’ beat their wives ‘if required’ in a proposed CII bill for the ‘protection of women’ in Pakistan.

The controversial bill which was also challenged by Barrister Zafarullah earlier in the Supreme Court for misinterpreting sacred Quranic verses, bars interaction between namehram men and women at offices and recreational places, banning music, dance, and sculptures created in the name of art.

The IHC Justice Aamer Farooq has issued a notice to the state, seeking a reply within 10 days, after a preliminary hearing of the case.