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       ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel on Thursday cleared a bill seeking to prescribe jail term and fine for preaching Zionism and displaying its symbols.

       The Senate standing committee on interior met with Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman in the chair and passed the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill.

       The bill was introduced in the house on April 29 by ruling PML-N Senator Afnanullah Khan. It recommends up to three years of imprisonment or a fine of Rs40,000, or both, for anyone who knowingly or intentionally engages in the preaching of Zionism to incite hatred in society.

       The proposed bill seeks punishment for up to two years or imposition of fine or both for anyone who knowingly or intentionally displays symbols of Zionism to spread hatred and disturb peace.

       The statement of objects and reasons of the bill says that Zionism is an ethnic, religious and political school of thought, which adopts extremist and strict ways and means to attain its objectives.

       It adds that Pakistan, being a Muslim state with supremacy and sovereignty of Allah and Islam as basis of its Constitution, should never allow display of symbols depicting Zionism, for spreading unrest in the country.

       It explains the term “Zionism” was coined by Nathan Birnbaum in 1890. Started as an ethnic and religious movement, it was later turned into a political movement on Semitism.

       Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2024