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Judge reserves order in blasphemy plea against Rahat Fateh Ali
Petitioner states that singer’s song hurt her religious sentiments.
Petitioner states that singer’s song hurt her religious sentiments
LAHORE: An additional district and sessions judge reserved order on a petition seeking the registration of an FIR against singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan under blasphemy charges.
The petition was filed by Makkah Colony resident Lailatul Kubra. The petitioner submitted that Khan had recorded a song, Aj Din Charhia Teray Rang Warga for an Indian film, Aaj Kal. In the song, the petitioner said, Khan uttered improper words about God that hurt her religious sentiments as well as those of other Muslims. She said that the song had denied the power and oneness of God. Kubra said she had approached the station house officer (SHO) of Kahna police station to register an FIR against Khan but no action was taken.
Kubra requested the court to order the Capital City Police Officer and the SHO to register an FIR against Khan under Sections 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 295-C (use of derogatory remarks in respect of the Holy Prophet), and 298 (uttering words to wound religious feelings) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
In its comments, the police told the court that the petitioner had never visited the police station or filed an application. On Tuesday, Advocate Mian Bashir Saif, from the Free Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement, said, on behalf of Khan, that no case was made out against his client under the above mentioned sections of the PPC. He further said that Kahna police had no jurisdiction to take action against Khan if he sang a song in India.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2010.
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Reader Comments (33)
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Anyone seen the PONDS add with the “Tum milay” song as the background music?Recommend
I am happy the lady petitioner has not read any Punjabi Sufi poetry. All Baba Bulleh Shah types could be hauled before courts – dead or alive! In more recent times, most of the TV lady newscasters come on TV in full make-up without HIJAB and insult my religious feelings. I want suo moto action taken against them too.Recommend
Kamran Khan@ excellent!Recommend
Well said Kamran. Poetry of Ghalib, Mir taqi Mir and many Sufi poets, and Iqbal’s Shikwa Jawab Shikwa are all blasphemous. The title of national poet should be taken back from Iqbal. This lady went to police and court against a song, just unbelievable!Recommend
Why did the lady listen to the song and then analysed it so throughly. There are thousands of such songs, Indian and others. Then this lady is spreading the alleged blasphemous word to the world at large. Ignoring such things is the best course.Recommend
Is listening to songs allowed in the first place?Recommend
The thing to notice is how this lady managed to achieve what she did. Is there more to the petitioner’s background (political background) or is Pakistan’s judicial system really that efficient? And if it is the latter, we must celebrate this as a victory in the fight to protect a citizen’s freedom of belief (the prerequisite of all other freedoms in my opinion) – regardless of how irrational and ‘unbelievable’ that belief may be. Too pol sci huh?Recommend
Thousand of such case can be made against Abida Perveen, Arif Lohar, Pathne Khan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and many more. The judge should have thrown away the application without issuing any notice to the police . For the sake of peace and tranquility , all forms of intolerance ,
is liable to be discouraged .Recommend
we are lost in religion, and this wil be our ultimate demise. dont we have any other problems woman.?Recommend
Uttering words to wound religious feelings. Can’t we use that law against all those people who rely on hate speech against the minorities in this country?Recommend
Why is everybody offended? She did what she felt like, dont we want to portray ourselves as members of a democratic society? Let RFAK speak for himself.Recommend
One can agree that the poetry of many Sufi’s and other poets is blasphemous, so what’s the big deal about this song? but does doing a crime repeatedly make it legal?
I am not arguing that this particular song has or has not insulted the Muslim beliefs.
Neither am I surprised to see so many comments against the women, who for one, has bothered to do something about he blasphemous poetry. I guess we have been conditioned to be “Moderate” and become insensitive to the insults being thrown at our religion, beliefs & nation.Recommend
Ask that lady if She is a true Muslim as Music is not allowed in Islam..Ask her first to follow the right path and then point out the others…..Recommend
a shortcut for getting fame by involving a famous singer of the world….
WOW…. That’s great Lailatul Kubra…. If you’re a much strict muslim, than please stop listening to the music…. simple…Recommend
@Kamran Khan: Strongly AgreeRecommend
first of all the soundtrack of love aaj kal is released in india and the copyright holder of the song is Pritam chakraborty(composer).i dont get this thing why this stupid woman is bringing this issue now.it happened in 2009 and its 2010.rahat gave 10 more songs in bollywood.inculding the latest dabangg tere mast mast do nain…etc..so i think this lady should go away she is making a fool of herself by dissing rahat fateh ali khan(the living legend)…if she is so desperate to brag about this go to india and sue pritam chakraborty.pritam escaped plagarism charges so who are you madam…read this message if someone shows you…and please be quiet you are no one .the blasphamious man was the lyrics writer(IRSHAD KAMIL)….so please first get your knowledge first then come again,.otherwise someone may just throw a classic insult at you wich will haunt you for the rest of your life…Good luckRecommend
I think its the only the Lady’s God.Recommend
What is her age, religious qualifications and then entertain her application otherwise put her behind the bar.Recommend
There is absolutely no dearth of bigoted crackpots in this country.
The lady has a lot of free time on her hands, I wish she could do something better to get attention.Recommend
Amazingly hilarious…seems like that even in such times…people have nothing better to do. She should put her energy in the right place. 1. she should have some tolerance. 2. if she is such a strong advocate of religion then y listen to songs on the first place. 3. Are songs the only thing hurting feelings? to take such a step…is there NOTHING else in her life or in her country to fix or pay attention to. Its sad but seems like in this case she let her exaggerated emotions take over her brain.Recommend
Why is it that Muslims are so eager to condem others for who they are and measuring each other in measures of Islamity. When Muslims begin to understand that people are who they are because of their birth and have little to do with what they are as people in a given group, caste or society, perhaps their (the Muslims’) drive to find fault with everyone else will begin to diminish. Great peoples are great because of their diversity. Why should a Muslim in Pakistan feel any more pious and legitimate simply because of the benefit of birth! Is a Christian, a Hindu, a Sikh somehow less because of their birth? It’s not the religion but the cultural adaptation that has perverted it in such a way.Recommend
Tut, tut, tut… this is what has become of Pakistan from the worship and love of allah swt to the worship of that idol the mullahRecommend
Hilarious Indeed!
Also,
Rofl!Recommend
Media is trying to portray Blasphemy Law as a villainous law, Media needs to be fair and purely impartial.Recommend
Meyri Beyti Kubra, Tumheyn Shari’yat Ka hukm pata hee ho gaa k mosiqi sun-na ek bohat barey gunah-e-kabira jeysa bura kaam hae. Meherbani farma kar Allah Allah karney maen apna waqt guzareyn aur mosiqi jeyse SHIRK se apna qalb dagh-dar na kareyn. SHUKRIYA.Recommend
the Blasphemy Law is a 100% villainous law that feeds on our religious bigotry, intolerance, stupidity to try to press down religious minorities in this country no matter what!
after all, according to such Muslims all non-Muslims are sub-human scum that dont deserve any equality, compassion, and justice because they dont follow the same brand of religious brainwashing as the rest,…..and yet these very same Muslims cry foul on how the world portrays them as ‘violent terrorists’.
catch my drift?Recommend
Because of punjabis-who in fact are closer to there sikh cousins across the border then they are to rest of Pakistan and Islam, there is a need uphold the blasphemy law and that includes the judge who dismissed the petition.Recommend
Ah, such an example of prejudice and bigotry. Khalid Kahn has now place his stamp of bias on Punjabis. A true example of ignorance and intollerance. And, one further example of why the Islamic world will never be at peace. Whatever Khalid is, he apparently believes he’s above a Punjabi who is “closer to there [sic] Sikh cousins across the border.” It’s this very pompous, arrogant and ignorant mentality that has turned Pakistan into a virtual failed state while India has become a prosperous and booming world leader. Pakistan leads the world in nothing but violence, killing, and intolerance. I had nothing to do with my place of birth or with the culture, family and religion into which I was born. I am here by fate. I’m sure Mr. Khalid has also determined which of his Muslim friends/neighbors is more Muslim than the others and finds some pleasure in believing himself to be more pious and religious (as if that means a damned thing) than others who are so far inferior to himself. This behavior is despicable.Recommend
Guys! If she files a petition against the song and she thinks that it has hurt her sentiments. So whats your problem. There should be freedom of speech and everyone should be given the right to speak. I myself listen to this song but I keep religion and music in seperate boxes. Let her object it and lets see the reaction!Recommend
Why is it that religion always tries to censors criticism gag its critics……..Only thing that we need to do is tell these idiot fanatics that your religion is not above freedom of speech, anyone can say whatever they believe…if u think they are wrong about ur religion, prove ur own truth…don’t silence others….
and why does this dumb??? b???h (the petitioner) even care to listen to this song or any song, doesn’t her religion forbid her from listening to music.Recommend
I have heard the song over and over and I did at times feel that some of the words may be offensive to some religious zealots but what constitutes blasphemy? I am a practicing Muslim and immensely enjoy the song. Who determines what is the threshold for someone to be accused of blasphemy and be proved guilty? The poet has expressed his inner feeling in the form a shikwa and he is fully entitled to it. Rahat has conveyed the feelings in a manner that no other artiste could do.Many people who may not possess the ability to express similar feelings in writing somehow manage to silently convey them to their creator when a state of hopelessness confronts them.All that remains between the creator and the creator who is the best Judge. Rahat is without doubt, the singer of 21st century who has endeared himself to fans of all ages globallyand will continue to do so for many years to come.At the age of 70 I never imagined that in my life time I would ever hear a voice that could make me forget the golden voices of great singers of yesteryears but Rahat has certainly erased all those voices from my memory.May Almighty Allah protect him from Hasid’s.Recommend
I have already commented.Recommend
Name of my city and country are now entered.Recommend