ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Hectic lobbying is going on for vacant posts of member and chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII).

Various religious and political parties are reportedly vying to place their candidates in the constitutional body that recommends formulation of laws in accordance with Islamic principles.

The two posts fell vacant after the completion of three-year term of Maulana Mohammad Khan Sherani last month and the death of Dr Farida Ahmed Siddiqui in August.

Maulana Sherani who belongs to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) was also the chairman of CII.

Because of political pressure selection of two new members and the chairman for the council has become a difficult task for the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the prime minister who is the competent authority to finalise the names.

An official of the ministry said that it had finalised summary of over 40 candidates, including six women, who applied for the posts.

Political observers believe that the reason behind the increasing interest in the membership of CII is not because of the respectful position CII members enjoy, but the perks and privileges attached to the positions. The status of CII members is equal to parliamentarians.

According to sources in the ministry, Maulana Sherani who is also a member of the National Assembly is aspiring to become the member of CII again and in this regard his party is lobbying for him.

However, JUI-F spokesman Jan Achakzai has denied such reports.

The sources said one of the most aspiring candidates for the CII chairmanship is Qari Mohammad Hanif Jallandhary. They said he enjoyed strong backing of Barelvi members of the council.

Another strong candidate for the position is Maulana Hafiz Mohammad Tahir Ashrafi who despite belonging to Deobandi school of thought enjoyed support of Shia and Barelvi members because of his liberal views and accommodating nature.

But, according to the sources, Maulana Tahir Ashrafi will not likely be supported by Deobandi members.

The sources said due to busy scheduled of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif it was unlikely that new members and chairman of CII could be selected before the mid of January.

Because CII is now without a chairman it cannot take up the 14-point ‘code of conduct’ for sectarian harmony in the country presented by Maulana Tahir Ashrafi recently. By rules only the chairman can call a meeting of the council.

According to Maulana Tahir Ashrafi, if adopted by the council the ‘code of conduct’ can go a long way in establishing sectarian harmony in the country.

The current members of CII are Maulana Allama Zubair Ahmad Zaheer, Sahabzada Pir Khalid Sultan Al-Qadri, retired Justice Mian Nazir Akhter, Syed Iftikhar Hussain Naqvi, Mufti Mohammad Iqbal Hussain Shah Faizi, Syed Feroze Jamal Shah Kakakhel, retired Justice Mushtaq A. Memon, Qari Mohammad Hanif Jallandhary, Mufti Ghulam Mustafa Rizvi, Syed Saeed Ahmed Shah Gujrati, Hafiz Mohammad Tahir Mahmud Ashrafi, Allama Mohammad Yousaf Awan, Pir Mian Abdul Baqi, Mufti Mohammad Ibrahim Qadri, Dr Mohammad Mushtaq Kalota, Allama Mohammad Amin Shaheedi, Maulana Fazli Ali and Dr Mufti Mohammad Idrees Soomro.