Council of Islamic Ideology worried by law and order situation, Mideast unrest

The Council of Islamic Ideology convened on Thursday to address growing concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in the country and international conflicts involving Middle Eastern nations. The meeting, chaired by Dr Muhammad Raghib Hussain Naeemi, delved into various legal and national issues, including the issuance of licenses for religious TV networks.

During the deliberations, the council expressed apprehension regarding maritime traffic due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the US-Iran war. They also criticized the Houthis' intervention in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea. However, the group refrained from naming a brotherly Muslim country in the meeting minutes.

The crisis was compounded by the ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, which had led to the closure of a vital waterway. The council expressed sorrow over the deaths of three Pakistanis in Somali pirate attacks, offering prayers for the deceased. The group also approved ringtone messages promoting respect for flags and banners during the holy month of Muharram.

A key issue discussed was the issuance of licenses for religious TV channels. Currently, no category exists for such channels with the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra). However, a senior Pemra official cautioned that granting licenses to religious channels might incite sectarianism. The council also advocated for establishing a special inheritance tribunal to swiftly handle cases related to women's property and inheritance following the Federal Shariat Court's decision to deem 'chaddar' and 'parchi' un-Islamic.

Furthermore, the council endorsed the "Muslim Family Laws (Father's Maintenance) Amendment Bill 2026" proposed by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri. They also considered the Shariah status of applying Article 120 of the Limitations Act 1908 to maintenance claims for children and wives beyond the statutory time limit. The council supported the Supreme Court's decision upholding Qaiser Ayub's death sentence in a blasphemy case, emphasizing that such incidents of blasphemy were a genuine concern.