LAHORE: Religious scholars of various schools of thought have supported the resolution adopted by the Punjab Assembly seeking a banoncelebritieshostingRamazan transmissions.

The resolution submitted by Maulana Muavia Azam of the Rahe-Haq Party reads that the House of the Punjab Assembly requests the federal government to ensure that TV channels display the utmost respect for Ramazan in their transmissions and invite religious scholars to the programmes.

Allama Niaz Hussain Naqvi, senior vice-president of Wafaqu1Madaris Al-Shia, lauds the move arguingthathkepohuciansarenot invited to a programme on medicines or clerics for a talk on architecture similarly only those should be asked to conduct and attend religious programmes who are expert on religious teachings.

He also urges that the task of character building of the masses should be confined to 30 days of Ramazan or 10 days of Moharram rather this should be a year-round project.

Chief of his own faction of Jamaat Ahle Hadith Hafiz Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer upholds the resolution contending that the men and/or womenwhether from the showbiz or journalism may be good at their respective work but not for the task they are supposed to do during the Ramazan transmissions.

The religious programmes require a certain level of knowledge and expertise in explaining various edicts in their specific contexts and unfortunately those so far being assigned the task lack these characteristics and thus may not truly guide the people, who view such programmes to learn Islamic teachings.

Hafiz Abdul Ghaf far Ropri of the Jamaat Ahle Hadith terms the resolution a very positive step as invit-ing those people to conduct religious programmes who themselves have no grip on the religion itself is like making a mockery of the f aith.

He urges TV channels` administration to instead invite scholars for the events so that the viewers may learn something about Islamic teachings during the sacred month.

Interestingly, the resolution was moved when the opposition had pointed out that the House lacked the minimum required presence of lawmakers to continue with the proceedings. It has raised questions on the legal position of the document.-Staff Reporter