Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has urged all political parties and religious scholars to fulfil their responsibilities towards eliminating extremist mindset from the country.    

Speaking in the National Assembly today (Wednesday), he said it is time to crush the seed of hatred and establish complete peace.

He noted that with extremist mindset we cannot take the country forward. 

The Minister said that about two thousand Pakistani religious scholars “Under Paigham-e-Pakistan” have also stated that Jihad cannot be declared by any individual or a group but only the state.

Clarifying his position about the Iqama he possessed from 2011 to 2016, he said during this period he was member of Institute of Leadership and Entrepreneurship in Madina Munawwara. The Interior Minister said it was an honorary position and he did not get any remuneration.

Spealking on a point of order, in the National Assembly, Opposition Leader Khurshid Shah said there is serious water crisis in Sindh province, which is affecting the daily lives of people as well as the agriculture sector.

He asked the federal government to take notice of the situation.

The National Assembly today passed the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Bill, 2018.

The bill moved by Minister of State for Maritime Affairs Chaudhary Jafar Iqbal is aimed at preventing human trafficking especially women and children.

Three other bills were also passed by the House which included Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies Bill, 2018, “The Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and “The Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

The House will now meet tomorrow (Thursday) morning at 11 am.