ISLAMABAD: Presid­ent Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday assented to three bills, but returned one related to the establishment of an authority for Daanish schools to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for reconsideration, citing the “need for provincial consultation”.

“In the case of the establishment of Daanish schools in the provinces, prior consultation with the respective provincial governments is essential,” a statement issued by the Presidency quoted the president as saying.

Meanwhile, the president approved three bills on the advice of the prime minister, including one aimed at establishing a statutory body to protect and promote the rights of minority communities in the country.

The approved legislations include the Qanun-i-Shahadat (Amendment) Bill 2025, the King Hamad University of Nursing and Associated Medical Scie­nces Bill 2025, and the National Commission for Minorities’ Rights Bill 2025.

Cites need for ‘provincial consultation’ on proposed law

The bill for a National Commission for Minorities’ Rights was passed by a majority vote during a joint session of parliament earlier this month, amid stiff opposition from both sides of the aisle.

The opposition was based on fears that a provision giving the law overriding effect could affect the anti-Ahmadi ordinance, promulgated in 1984.

A total of 160 members voted in favour of the bill, while 79 opposed it.

However, the bill was passed with certain amendments, including the omission of the clause granting it overriding effect and the withdrawal of the suo motu powers earlier proposed for the National Commission for Minorities’ Rights.

During that session, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar clarified that the bill would neither dilute the anti-Ahmadiyya provisions nor affect any court judgement. “Neither the law nor the Constitution, nor our conscience, allows us to make a proposal that contradicts the Holy Quran and Sunnah,” he remarked.

He said while the Constitution and the State had declared Ahmadis as non-Muslims, they did not accept this status and therefore did not fall within the ambit of the bill.

He underlined that the proposed commission would not have punitive powers and would instead submit its recommendations to the government.

“Our Christian, Hindu, Parsi, Sikh and other non-Muslim brothers and sisters deserve a forum to add­ress issues, whether forced conversions, job quotas, sanitation workers’ rights, or other matters of dignity,” he told the joint sitting.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2025