Media talk: ‘Those who blaspheme have no right to live’

Counsel for Mumtaz Qadri assails Supreme Court.

LAHORE: A fate similar to that of slain governor Salmaan Taseer awaits the prime minister and the president if they have the temerity to blaspheme, Justice (retd) Nazeer Akhtar said on Sunday.

He was speaking to journalists at a media talk organised by the Tanzim Ittehad-i-Ummat in the city. Akhtar, who is defending Mumtaz Qadri before the Supreme Court, said no blasphemer had the right to live. He said it was binding to kill a blasphemer even if they happened to be the president or the prime minister of the nation.

Akhtar said he had been striving against Ahmadis “who were governing the nation.” He said Ahmadis had to be dealt with courage. Akhtar said he had been fighting to protect the finality of prophethood with several like-minded advocates.

He rapped the Supreme Court for referring to Taseer as governor in its order. Akhtar said he had no confidence in the bench hearing the case. He said he would soon approach the chief justice to fix the case before an ‘impartial’ bench. Advocate Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry, an associate of Akhtar, assailed an anti-terrorism court for asking him why he despised Ahmadis.

TIUP chairman Muhammad Ziaul Haq Naqshbandi read out a unanimous resolution against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, the Islamic State and Al Shahab. He said the manner in which they were conducting their operations contradicted Islamic teachings. He said suicide bombers and their handlers were out of the pale of Islam.

Naqshbandi said Islam did not permit the killing of people on the basis of their confession.  He said beliefs had to be countered by intellect and not force. Naqshbandi said Islam did not permit the writ of the state to be challenged by individuals. He said those who indulged in such antics should be eliminated. Naqshbandi said those who died while fighting law enforcement agencies could not be declared martyrs on their demise.

He called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to proclaim a jihad against anti-state elements. Naqshbandi said it would be binding on every citizen to support such a struggle after its proclamation. He said attacking educational institutions violated Islamic teachings. Naqshbandi said the nationwide anti-polio campaign did not compromise Islam. He said attacking minorities’ places of worship was a sin. Naqshbandi said Islam afforded complete protection to minorities. He said using force to establish an Islamic system was improper. Naqshbandi voiced support for the military operation against terrorists in North Waziristan. He said the operation should continue till the last terrorist standing was eliminated. Naqshbandi called on the government to constitute a board of religious scholars vested with the authority to issue takfiri fatwas.

Jamia Naeemia head Raghib Hussain Naeemi said only Barelvis had raised their voice against terrorism. Naeemi said they had come together once more on the occasion to reiterate their earlier anti-terrorism commitments. He said terrorists had compromised peace in the nation.

Those present demanded that the scope of the operation to be expanded to encompass the entire nation. They said hanging terrorism convicts was in accordance with Islam. Those present said the government should expedite the process. They urged the TTP and those involved in fanning the flames of sectarianism to abandon their activities and strive for peace.

Over 100 Hadith scholars were present at the media talk.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2015.