Pakistan

Doctor arrested on blasphemy charges

Blasphemy case filed against member of Ismaili community in Hyderabad.

Afp December 13, 2010

KARACHI: A doctor has been arrested on charges of blasphemy in Hyderabad, police said on Sunday.

Naushad Valiyani was detained on Friday following a complaint by a medical representative who visited the doctor in the city of Hyderabad.

"The arrest was made after the complainant told the police that Valiyani threw his business card, which had his full name, Muhammad Faizan, in a dustbin during a visit to his clinic," regional police chief Mushtaq Shah told AFP.

"Faizan accused Valiyani of committing blasphemy and asked police to register a case against the doctor."

Shah said the issue had been resolved after Valiyani, a member of the Ismaili community apologised but local religious leaders intervened and pressed for action.

"Valiyani had assured Faizan that he did not mean to insult the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) by throwing the visiting card in the dustbin," Shah said, adding that the police had registered a case under the Blasphemy Act.

A court last month had sentenced to death Aasia Bibi, a Christian mother-of-five found guilty of blasphemy. The government attempted to pardon Bibi after an international outcry over the case, but the Lahore Hight Court prevented it from granting her a swift pardon.

Most of those convicted of blasphemy in Pakistan have their sentences overturned or commuted on appeal through the courts.

The country has yet to execute anyone for blasphemy, but the case has highlighted a controversial law which rights activists say encourages extremism.

COMMENTS (76)

Tanveer | 13 years ago | Reply By seeing how the people of Pakistan have made a hero out of Qadri, I dont see any hope for Pakistan. Root cause of all our problems is our slavery to the un-educated Mullas, and the brand of Islam preached by them. I am ashamed to see the level of our masses. Even the educated class is not different, they are also supporting Qadri the Murderer! For Gods sake, please start questioning these Mullas and put them in their place!

Ammar bin irfan | 13 years ago | Reply i am amazed, i used to think that medical rep are bid educated but, now i guess they are also the toy of extremism, i am thinking the distrubance created by the med rep and mullah is reflection of the character of Mohammad, not at all, how many time of the day and week and month that mr. mohmmmad faizan did the wrong deeds (Gunnah) does it suits to faizan???? even his name wriiten with Mohammad. i guess not, i would suggest that faizan has to appologize for this mis leading act and to show that he is an educated person.

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Aamir | 13 years ago | Reply Muhammad Faizan's school papers might be in junk some where so it means its a blasphemy? so the police should arrest all the education board....What the CRAP is this....When they can't find something they make nonsense issues.... I highly condemned the act of Police and By laws without proof they can not arrest any one until you have genuine proofs of it....

Nurali | 13 years ago | Reply This is outrageous, this shows how pathetic the police is in Pakistan. Not only that but it's so ironic how criminals are charged even when their name is Muhammed. So basically, they are charging the Prophet (SAW)? i dont think, this should be acceptable, there shouldnt have been any police report in the first instance.

fatima | 13 years ago | Reply whoever has labeled this as balsphemy, should be prosecuted, tried and placed behind bars for 150 years so this blasphemy crap is nipped at the bud.

Khurram | 13 years ago | Reply Very sad and shameful as it is but we as a nation have fully given-in to the brainless.

ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply we muslims just try to revenge at all things,is there any good way of doing things.... is some body there can tell me where can i find truth?

Nadir | 13 years ago | Reply What A nightmair Going to happen when all Law infocement going to Jail are will be arested Because in there life time how many Muhammed & Ali They Have Arrested in there life Time and How many Time They Have been Beaten by pakistani lawinforcment. and also how many Time They have been threw in Dumpster Dead Or Alive.... I do not think that Dr Naushad Have done any Thing Wrong. In Pakistan police will not take your case if you got robbed or if you have been rundown by a vehicle or for so manny resons But they made a Case to Dr Naushad For throwing a VISTING CARD in dustbeen., Reporting Police officer Have To be Fired from his job and end to jail for Disturbing Peace . Thats it Nadir

muyu | 13 years ago | Reply Does it not follow that anyone with the name "Mohammad" cannot be insulted or imprisoned?

imkarachi | 13 years ago | Reply Huh ... what a game these agencies are playing to eliminate this blasphemy law. I am wondering how the public is believing on these pre-meditated scripts.

Ducky | 13 years ago | Reply Tomorrow a new resolution shall be passed. All boys named Muhammad shall not be harmed, shall not be put into jail, shall not be hurt in anyway whatsoever. Next day, only a man named Muhammad can assume any role in the government or any higher seat... Third day, all terrorists named Muhammad make a beeline for the capital. 4th day, all women start naming their sons Muhammad which grants them immunity of all sorts... Wow and if there was ever a case where religious superstition made manifest, this would be it. Congratulations Pakistan, this just set back my belief that you had any chance of progress by another 100 years... I wonder though, if the doctor was also named Muhammad what would they do? Hmmmm....

Ducky | 13 years ago | Reply MH, I hope so too; but its quite an unrealistic target don't you think? Islam and Pakistan are inseperable, you cant tell people to quit following their often misinterpreted versions of the religion. The godforsaken lawyers are protesting against the release of Aasia Bibi. They were supposed to be secular? Even the judiciary? See what I mean? And I hardly see anyone from the general public condemning the blasphemy law... Most of what Ive read are editorials published in newspapers, and you could hardly call these people 2% of the public. So the rest of them are just scared? Insecure? Sleepy? Or do they agree with what is an illegal entity setup by a military dictator who seemingly was the harbinger in bringing true Islam to Pakistan... Zia is the worst thing that happened to this sad excuse of a country.

MH | 13 years ago | Reply This is terrible. I mean what would it take to change that blasphemy law? It shames me to be a part of a country that has such disregard for human life, and I'm Muslim. What Muslims need to remember is that they're not some superior race, they are made of former Christians, Jews, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was not born a Muslim, he became one.... I mean how did we go so wrong? I hope someday we can have our minorities as prime ministers and presidents.

salim | 13 years ago | Reply What happens to newspapers after they are read??? Most issues probably contain people with such names.

Asif | 13 years ago | Reply the doctor is innocent...dont kill him..plz!

Naveed | 13 years ago | Reply This is not blasphemy. Every day i meet scores of senseless sales persons and throw their business cards without seeing their names. I dont know whether the doctor deliberately throw the card after seeing the Prophet name or not. It seems the doctor is sick and tired of meeting medical reps promoting their products. Allah knows the truth.

Maximus | 13 years ago | Reply How come no other Muslim country in the world criminalizes throwing business cards of people named Mohammed?

AJAY | 13 years ago | Reply My God, it is like country full of religious mines.You never know which one will bring you down. So explosive, so senseless almost brain dead.Be care full.God is watching you and every name,every road leads to him.Best of Luck.

SA | 13 years ago | Reply Once again the law is being manipulated to settle personal score!! What a shame. Medical reps and practioners both need to follow the code of medical ethics!

Rana Bilal | 13 years ago | Reply This is really pathetic. these people like Faizan.... they are just using these laws so unlawfully that a normal person with very leittle knowledge can understand. cheers to Faizan. how low can you go? Islam is not a simple thing that if you throw away a card in the dustbin, it hurts. its a complete code of life. i think the biggest Blasphemer here is Faizan himself. Please People!!! don't make no more fun of Muslims and Islam. For Allah's sake.....

Muhammad Ihsan | 13 years ago | Reply I am a Sunni Muslim and try to live accordingly. This utterly despicable abuse of one of Zia's legacies fills me with shame. Muslims living in Christian countries, like Muslims elsewhere, DO NOT believe in the Divinity of Jesus Christ or his Sonship of God. How would we feel if Muslims in North and South Americas, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and some African countries are rounded up and awarded capital punishment for considering Jesus Christ only a mighty Prophet, but a mortal human being without any share in Godhood. Non-muslim citizens of Muslim countries do not believe in the Prophethood of Muhammad(PBUH).This amounts to considering him an impostor. Are we going to hang them all for violating Section 295-C of PPC ? We Muslims are defaming Islam.

Jawad Rehman | 13 years ago | Reply The medical reps were representing a medical company, I presume, and most likely one of the large pharmaceuticals (multinational). They should step forward and denounce the actions of their rep, fire him, and help withdraw this case against the innocent doctor. This is height of insanity - something that makes all Pakistanis ashamed.

Shah | 13 years ago | Reply I wish i could meet this so-called sales representative one day and teach him the lesson of Islam and Blasphemy Law and his contradiction for profit making. I wish someone from the land of rich culture sindh Nationalist coudl take notice of it and put him to jail and teach him the real essence of ISLAM and Mohammad (PBUH). Wake up conscious People of the SINDH and take notice of Extermism and fanaticism under your nose.

Mubarak | 13 years ago | Reply I want to register an F.I.R against all those people have Mohammad as part of their name. These people are committing blasphemy as they are faking to be Prophet Mohammad. There was and will be only one Mohammad (SAW). There are lots of thieves, dacoits, robbers, Rashis etc who have Mohammad as part of their name. All these people should be tried and given punishment under article 295C. In future people should be warned not to use Mohammad as part of name of their children to avoid blasphemy.

Ameer Hamza | 13 years ago | Reply A more stupid nation is hard to imagine. And our police is even more stupid. No wonder they have been unable to stop any terrorist attack from happening.

QuranVsHadith | 13 years ago | Reply Ahmed, the reason these MULLAHs have the power is that people will not Oppose them 100% of the time.. you will write this message and on Friday go worship ALLAH right behind the same MULLAH.. We need to stop making excuses for these MULLAH.. they are all exactly the same!!! 100% of these Mullahs need to be banned.. if Paksitan is to survive and we need to follow the path established by ALLAH in the QURAN.. not opinions of MULLAHS

Justice | 13 years ago | Reply This so called sales rep must have been approaching this noble doctor with some fake drugs which he might have refused to prescribe to his patients.Being a pakistani honesty can never be tolerated and this noble doctor was punished for nothing.This stupid medical rep needs to be punished.My name is Mohamed saleem and I drink Alcohol and I know it is Haram and I know Hell fire is waiting for me,if there is Allah to punish who the hell is this medical rep.

ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply where is our honourable CJP ? Cant he see wht is happening to our state . Why is the nation afraid of molvis ? Its high time we as a nation come together against these fanatic minded ppl.

Mohammed Abbasi | 13 years ago | Reply I am wondering if the reason Pakistan is going downhill is simply because it has blasphemed against Islam with these stupid laws

AZMAT KHAN | 13 years ago | Reply i do not think any ismaili can commit an act of blasphemy. anyhow a charge of blasphemy is a great weapon in the hands of those who have to square an account with anybody. god take pity on us.

QuranVsHadith | 13 years ago | Reply Mustafa.. is another name for the Prophet.. you should change it before they get you on blasphemy as well.. We have decided not to purchase anything even if it has ARABIC SCRIPT written on it.. thats the only way to be safe from this law

Raju | 13 years ago | Reply None sense !!!! Now every conflict is going to be tried under blasphemy Parliament must do something Do not disgrace Islam for share political advantages Or do not blame islamphobia People are distancing them self from muslims

M Mustafa | 13 years ago | Reply If this is the application of the infamous 295-C, I am seriously thinking of changing my name. I will also request all other Muslims to change their names to non-Islamic names.

QuranVsHadith | 13 years ago | Reply People should stop accepting cards with the name MOHAMMAD or even ARABIC SCRIPT on it.. make sure NO ONE has anything related with ISLAM printed on any card. You never know when a MULLAH is going to come storming in...blaming us for insulting anything!! I am personally make sure that when I buy a product it does not have ANYTHING ISLAMIC written on it.. A TOTAL bycott of everything / anything with even ARABIC WRITTING is needed.. maybe we can get rid of this CRAP LAW by standing up!!

annon | 13 years ago | Reply Thank you CIA for creating talibans to gight the Russian's and Zia ....whose legacy is "an inoperable cancer" running amok in the country. Agree with Billal lets just stuff these religious idiots into a ship and sink them into oblivion and STO KSA esp funding thier madressas. BTW I have deleted or spammed e-mails from contacts whose name is Mohammed XYZ , Ali XYZ, Hussain etc does that mean I have commited blashphemy agianst all muslims in Pakistan . Seriusly these guys need to be "tried in the court's " and punished for inciting and promoting national unrest!

Emanuel | 13 years ago | Reply @ Ali Tariq " The media shouldn't even post such an article.. there are far worse things going on right now. This is gossip" Really !!!! After shuch a long struggle against extreamism we finally have some liberal and enlighted people confronting the radical extreamists. You want media not to show these kind of news so it will be very easy for extreamists to kill these infidals and get away with it. Shameful

Ali Tariq | 13 years ago | Reply The media shouldn't even post such an article...there are far worse things going on right now. This is gossip

Yasir | 13 years ago | Reply

The arrest was made after the complainant told the police that Valiyani threw his business card, which had his full name, Muhammad Faizan, in a dustbin during a visit to his clinic,

So every time Muhammad Faizan's teacher scolded him in class, she was committing blasphemy too? May be we can number people instead of naming them? All numbers would do except may be 786.

T R Khan | 13 years ago | Reply In my humble view there is no worldly punishment for blasphemy. The law should be done away with. If this is not possible then all prophets and religious leaders, including Guru Nanak, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad should be covered by the blasphemy law.

Shahryar Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply We as a society, reach new heights of stupidity everyday. Thank you Zia-ul-Haq for all this. Your legacy lives on through the morons in Pakistan.

Farhat | 13 years ago | Reply wow, this nation has nothing better to do

gunjan | 13 years ago | Reply :) According to the sixth edition of The Columbia Encyclopedia (2000), Muhammad is the most common given name in the world, including variations.[3] It is estimated that more than 150 million people in the world bear the name Muhammad. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_(name)

gunjan | 13 years ago | Reply @Anonymous Amazed I am. Don't you already do so? I work in finance and I don't work wih muslims as a rule. There is just one muslim guy at a "high" level in my orgaization and I stay away. I am ready to sacrifice some talent, if any, but not ready to get into any issue. And I am not the only one. No muslims please is an unsaid rule, if there are alternatives.

Adnan Khan | 13 years ago | Reply I am afraid to even throw yesterday's newspaper in the waste-bin... very very afraid

Nazir Habib | 13 years ago | Reply This is another act of frenzied devotion to religion. An act of impulse. Both the doctor and the medrep should be advised by the SANER elements of the mulla community, lawyers and society elders not to act with tempers frayed. The medical representatives have a duty and so do the doctors. Both should keep their emotions and indulgences (professions) in tight wraps. Salams and best wishes.

Abdul Rahim | 13 years ago | Reply This is insane… Blasphemy charge is the easiest way to make people emotional and do whatever these so-called Muslims wants them to do…. Any Ismaili Muslim can not even think of insulting any prophet including Prophet Mohammad PBUH (Naoz-zubillah)! Its a clear case of retaliation by the Medical rep who probably had grievances with the subject Doctor!

Post Human | 13 years ago | Reply This report has got to be a hoax. No one can be this stupid. Not even in Pakistan.

Shakil Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply Friends, Sisters & Brothers. Well, The case is not strong, but we have to view the ultimate purpose. This could the way to build a foundation to ammend the Said Law. Under this act till today, there is not practical punishment of Death to any one. If the ammendment is required because the law is being used for wrong purposes, so the all other PC Laws are required to be ammend, as most commonly the Section 302 and 304 are misused. If one is saying the Murder of Bhutto was Judicial Murder, and then they only try to change to people who make the decission but not the law under which the decission was made. Then if the above cases are fake, please try to change the people not the law. The Law is perfectly all right and ofcource there is a law full proceeding, if you are not satisfied with session court you can move to high court and then the Supreme court, if required. But imposing that there should be no problem if any one say any thing about Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him, is not even fair and also would not allowed by the 98% people of the Pakistan. Please be sure:- "If a person is found involved in any type of blasphemy he must be Sentenced to Death" and other wise "People would be free to kill anyone by blaiming that the person was involved in Blasphemy" So let the people not take the law in their hands. Regards, Shakil Ahmed

Jaweed | 13 years ago | Reply The SHO who arrested this Doctor must be having a grudge against him. If this faizan fellow was employed by me I would certainly sack him.

Shahida Kazi | 13 years ago | Reply Is this for real?Or is it someones idea of a joke?

Aamir | 13 years ago | Reply Bravo! this is going to start a new age of blasphemy reports. What's interesting is the fact that Muhammad is a common name within Islamic world. One more to the blasphemy law.

Advocate My Foot | 13 years ago | Reply facepalm this is utter and complete stupidity....

Juzer | 13 years ago | Reply Anyone wonder why Parsis who helped MAKE Karachi are now leaving at an exponential rate? Who gives a damn about your stupid property and furniture, they see that as little to sacrifice if they must to get the hell out of this mess. I'm glad Mr. Marker passed away today before he had to read this. His heart would have sank. God Bless that man, he did more charity in Pakistan than any single individual from a minority community than I can remember.

Raj | 13 years ago | Reply I feel sorry. In any society people swear and Pakistan is no exception. There must be many persons whose first name is Mohammad and must be subject to abuse. Is this abuse blasphemous?

Ajay | 13 years ago | Reply 1) The BIGGEST culprit is the moronic police to have taken action in arresting. They should have put this complainant in a lockup for a)not understanding what is considered blasphemy b)misusing Mohammad's name for himself and for c)for signs of mental sickness, it is quite evident that this guy needs an evaluation by a psychiatrist. 2) The 2nd biggest culprits are the legislatures and people's representatives who aren't making any noises in the assemblies for repeal of this law and asking government to send military to tackle Jamat Islami's who threaten anarchy. 3) The military is guilty for not protecting the nation as this religious intolerance combined with demented mindsets is the single biggest threat to the existance of Pakistan. Military should have forced the government to issue orders so that it could start moving against all these enemies of the state who are threatening peace.

faraz | 13 years ago | Reply Just look at the clause 295 C of Blashphemy law:- Whoever by words, either spoken or written or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine. I think even wrong spellings of the word Mohammed can be conisdered blasphemous according to this wierd law. And then we complain of islamophobia.

Bilal Javed | 13 years ago | Reply If we are ever to come out of this .... we have to send all these mullahs for hajj and torpedo the ship on the way ..... these mullahs have hijacked our country

Akhtar | 13 years ago | Reply All this shows is the real lack of respect pakista has for their religion An illitrate people it shows

Verboten | 13 years ago | Reply This is like watching Monty Python's film "Life of Brian", but come alive. This is a tragedy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MontyPython'sLifeofBrian

Ch Allah Daad | 13 years ago | Reply What I read in other newspapers is this, "First Medical Reps stormed doctor's clinic, beat him badly and then took him to police station. At police station doctor apologized and explained his position. Everyone in crowd including medical reps forgave doctor and police allowed him to leave without registering any case. At that moment a group of religious fanatics stormed police station and forced police to register case agains doctor. Medical reps who had accepted the doctor's apology earlier also changd their mind and joined with religious fanatics." In my view medical reps were looking for an opportunity to teach a lesson to doctor, thats why they quickly got organized to stormed his clinic, which considering medical reps job is not easy.

Safee Shah | 13 years ago | Reply Ignorange (Jahalat) seems to be worse than it was before the prophets time! Human life is the most precious creation of Allah and ignorance is so much that people behave like animals and beasts when they treat their fellow human beings like this. And then we cry when we get earth quakes, floods, criminals/thiefs as leaders and all sorts of earthly punishments possible!

Humanity | 13 years ago | Reply This is the thank you for the selfless service of the Ismali community for Pakistan. This is a nation is now infiltrated with millions of ungrateful, thoroughly frustrated, insecure bigots. The blasphemers are those concoct such allegations and support them. They only desecrate the name of Allah and his Holy Prophet(pbuh) with the innocent blood. Do these holier than thou morons nor see any un-Islamic practice all around them? The hijacked history of the country laced with myths, lies, and twisted fabrications has created the warped present. The crop of crazy clerics and their brain washed lashkars is serving the Islamic Republic of Pakistan very aptly! As you sow, so shall you reap :( God help victims of the jahalaat of the self-worshiping mullahs and their followers.

Habiba Younis | 13 years ago | Reply Im amazed at the sheer stupidity of those 'religious warriors' !

BinYamin | 13 years ago | Reply See where we have landed. Now you can't throw away any card, printed piece of paper or even can't disgrace anyone who is named after holy personages no matter what he has done. This is height of extremism. Wake up Pakistan.

Ali Haider | 13 years ago | Reply Is must not pass the summary judgement.

M. Salim | 13 years ago | Reply what a poor reflection on the prevailing state of affairs. Pres Zardari has rightly called for a review of the misinterpreted law. Shudder to think of the consequences in this instance - it is the medical rep who should be behind bars and reprimanded for his ignorance and distatesful act.

M M Malik | 13 years ago | Reply This case shows the absurdity of the blasphemy law. Printed material containing venerable names are thrown and discarded in the most disgusting ways all over Pakistan by all. Is this blasphemy? What about computer screens, which may be used to study holy scriptures and also used for some steamy pages?

Talha | 13 years ago | Reply @ Ali Hasan The accused is an Ismaili, so they are considered Muslims thus far. Or have you got some info that hasn't been made public yet and another group has been declared Non-Muslim. @ topic What nonsense is this? Seriously.

malik | 13 years ago | Reply these mullahs and molvis are sick, they desperately need some physco treatment ..... really you guys need tht

User | 13 years ago | Reply The first blasphemer is that medical rep who got "Muhammad" printed on his visiting card. What did he expect? The doctor would kiss the card? This is outrageous. Let us throw every non-Muslim out. And those include the thinking Muslims also.

Salman Rashid | 13 years ago | Reply Hey! could you please tell me if a gossip queen runs this paper?

M M Malik | 13 years ago | Reply This case shows the absurdity of the blasphemy law. Newspapers containing venerable names are thrown and discarded in the most disgusting ways all over Pakistan by all. Is this blasphemy? What about computer screens, which may be used to study holy scriptures and also used for some steamy pages?

Ali Hasan | 13 years ago | Reply This is just so horribly stupid. Non-Muslims shouldn't even be allowed to move, lest they insult Islam in some way. We should just chain them all up forever, right? Pathetic waste of time and resources. Just as stupid as the LHC devoting hours and hours to policing the internet. Are these people devoid to other issues in Pakistan?

Shah | 13 years ago | Reply This is totally nonsense and this idiot Faizan must be arrested as well and put him to life sentence or hand him coz he just mis-used this so-called blasphemy law against any Ismaili.

Emme. | 13 years ago | Reply ARE YOU KIDDING ME. Allah doesn't need lowly mortals to come to his protection; and As a MUSLIM, i find it completely stupid to kill for throwing away a business card. You know whats worse, everyday people send out stupid wedding cards with verses from the Holy Quran Printed on it, know how many people throw THOSE in the trash?By accident too because they aren't looking. So what if he didnt see the man's name. Anyone named Mohammad isn't THE Mohammad (SAW) and doesn't possess the attributes of Him. Seriously, all this blasphemy has got to stop, this is stupid. The Quran and Islam preach peace and love and here we go wrecking the whole religion. Way to go, i'm sure Allah is really happy.

Discostu | 13 years ago | Reply My towel is manufactured by Mohammed textile mills. I dry myself after a shower with it. Is that blasphemy? I would laugh, but the tragedy that is this nation only causes me to cry.

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