Jamāl As‘ad, the appointed member of parliament, has said that he is aiming for a social discourse on the unified law for building houses of worship, as well the personal affairs for non-Muslims draft legislation.

He alleges that Copts’ problems will not be solved by sectarian demands, but on the basis of a common national ground with the participation of Muslims and Copts.

The People’s Assembly member said President Mubārak's speech to parliament did not deal with those two matters because they require further social debate before they are passed. As‘ad also discounted the passage of those two laws in the current parliamentary session.

His relations with the Pope had improved greatly following the rapprochement initiative he made on satellite television, with As‘ad describing the Pope as his "spiritual father."