National Assembly of Pakistan. PHOTO: APP

ISLAMABAD: The lower house of the parliament has unanimously passed a resolution condemning attacks by the Hindu extremists against Muslims particularly in New Delhi.



The resolution, moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan, said many Muslim men and women were killed and disgraced by the Hindu extremists, who also set fire to properties of Muslims while also vandalizing mosques in New Delhi last month.



It noted that Iran and Turkey also expressed their concerns over killing of Indian Muslims and urged the government to take up the matter with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations so that India might be compelled to ensure security of Muslims and other minorities.



The resolution also urged the Indian government to take steps for security of the Muslim and other minorities. The house also prayed for Muslim martyrs, who lost their lives in the communal violence, and commiserated with the bereaved families.



The North East Delhi riots began on the night of February 23 and caused deaths of 53 people, mostly Muslims, who were shot, cut with irregular blows or set afire.



The riots started after extremist Hindus belonging to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked people protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 (CAA).



The controversial law allows Hindus and other non-Muslim citizens of neighbouring Muslim states to get Indian citizenship. The law introduced in Dec 2019 sparked large scale protest across India as it is viewed as anti-Muslim and discriminatory.



Finality of prophet-hood



Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri told the National Assembly that the Hajj form had only been simplified and there was no change in its portion that asked the intending pilgrim to testify that he/she believes in finality of Hazrat Muhammad’s (PBUH) prophet-hood.



Qadri was replying to a calling attention notice. He said he had checked a large number of forms, submitted by the intending pilgrims in various banks.



“The forms include affidavits about Khatam-e-Nabbuwat (finality of prophet-hood). Around 150,000 Hajj forms, submitted to the ministry till to date, have signatures and thumbs impressions on the affidavit that affirms that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is the last messenger of God.”



He said the 14-page Hajj form had been simplified into only two parts adding that the part-one still contains oath about the finality of the prophet-hood. “Khatam-e-Nabuwwat is the fundamental faith in our religion,” he said.



Qadri said he had asked the officials to inform him before making any significant change in the Hajj application form. He, however, he said the form was simplified with a good intention for convenience of the people.



The minister informed the house that Prime Minister Imran Khan had also expressed concerns when he heard about a change in the form. However, he said, the prime minister had been informed that the oath had not been changed in the form..



Qadri thanked all the movers of the calling attention notice and said faith of a Muslims is incomplete without a firm belief that the Holy Prophet (PBHU) is the last prophet of God.



(With additional input from APP.)