Pir Sialvi's ultimatum for expulsion of Rana Sanaullah to lapse today

LAHORE: A week-long ultimatum from spiritual leader Pir Hameeduddin Sialvi to Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif to sack Rana Sanaullah is to lapse today.

The estranged party leader, Sialvi, has been demanding the resignation of provincial law minister Rana Sanaullah over his controversial remarks about religious minority Ahmedi community with regard to Khatm-e-Nabuwwat (finality of the Prophethood).

Delivering a public speech on Dec 24, Pir Sialvi had reminded Shehbaz Sharif of his promise to expel the Punjab law minister.

Calling upon his disciples and supporters to retract their support for ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Sialvi then warned Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif to make a choice whether to tender his resignation or show Rana Sanaullah the door.

“Promise me that you won’t vote for PML-N under any circumstances,” the spiritual leader then asked his supporters at Khatm-e-Nabuwwat Conference in Gujranwala.

His speech was followed by the resignation announcement from PML-N Ulema and Mashaikh wing president Makhdoom Arshad Qamar Garwah.

The conference was attended by caretakers of various eminent shrines across the province, who pledged support to Pir of Sial Sharif and his campaign against Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah.

PML-N legislators tender resignation  

Earlier this month on Dec 10, the ruling party had suffered a major blow after five lawmakers, three MPAs and two MNAs, submitted their resignations to Pir Sialvi. The resignations were announced during Khatm-e-Nabuwwat conference at Dhobi Ghat ground in Faisalabad.

In his brief address to participants of the conference, Pir Sialvi said he was not a political person and the agenda of calling this conference solely revolved around finality of the Prophethood.

“As firm believers of Khatm-e-Nabuwwat, we [are] gathered here with no intention to solicit support for elections or a political agenda,” Sialvi said.

He said the country was achieved in the name of Islam but ‘Law of Shariah’ (Nizam-e-Mustafa) has been set aside.