ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Penal Code is being amended with a view to punish those who profess, practice or propagate a belief contrary to the concept of the finality of prophethood of Mohammad (peace be upon him). A special committee of the whole House of the National Assembly had passed a resolution on Sept 7 last year in pursuance of which Article 260 of the Constitution was amended to resolve this issue.

This has necessitated the amendment of the Pakistan Penal Code. As such, a Bill was introduced in the National Assembly today [Jan 18] to amend Section 295A of the [PPC].

After the passage of the Bill, a Muslim who professes, practises or propagates a belief contrary to the concept of the finality of prophethood of Mohammad (peace be upon him) would be punished under this section, which provides rigorous imprisonment up to two years. News agencies [Meanwhile, as reported from Hamburg,] the Shahanshah of Iran does not believe in American military intervention in Arab oil fields. He made the statement in an interview... . ... Asked what he would do in case of American troop landings in the Persian Gulf, the Shah replied: `I personally do not believe this will happen.