LAHORE: The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) on Monday threatened the government with a civil disobedience movement unless it moved quickly to distance itself from attempts to amend the controversial blasphemy laws.
Addressing a Tahaffuz Namoos-e-Risalat Convention at Aiwan-i-Iqbal, SIC chairman Sahibzada Fazle Karim, a member of the National Assembly, demanded that the government clearly deny rumours that it planned to amend the blasphemy laws.
Some Pakistan Peoples Party leaders have strongly criticised the blasphemy laws recently and sought to end the death penalty for blasphemy. Opposition to the laws as they stand picked up after Aasia, a Christian mother of five, was sentenced to death allegedly for insulting Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). After Aasia was sentenced to death on November 8, Sherry Rehman, a former information minister, submitted a draft bill seeking an end to death penalty under the existing law. Salmaan Taseer, the Punjab governor, met Aasia in jail.
A large number of clerics, as well as many conservative politicians, have been vociferous in their opposition to suggestions that President Asif Ali Zardari should pardon Aasia Bibi.
The SIC, a coalition of eight Sunni parties, had organised Monday’s convention apparently in a bid to build some momentum against the moves to amend the blasphemy laws and ensure there is no presidential pardon for Aasia Bibi. It was attended by about 2,000 associates of the participating parties who regularly chanted slogans against blasphemers and also demanded action against those they accused of sympathising with Aasia.
“Pakistan was created in the name of Islam,” said Fazle Karim. “We will not tolerate any attempt to amend the law.” He asked the participants to raise their hands in token of a pledge to sacrifice their lives to protect the Holy Prophet’s (pbuh) honour. They obliged. Karim then reiterated his warning to the government that attempts to soften the law would trigger nationwide protests.
Fazlur Rehman Okarvi, the Jamaat Ahle Sunnat additional secretary, alleged that some elements in the government and the national media were willing to compromise their faith in order to please “their Jewish, American, Christian and European masters.” This, he said, was evident from their eagerness to help the blasphemers. Such people, he said, had ceased to be Muslims. He said not only those blaspheming against the Holy Prophet (pbuh) but also whosoever favoured them or tried to amend the blasphemy laws became an apostate.
Pir Muhammad Mahfooz, the Markazi Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam leader, said: “The government should forget about amending the blasphemy laws. Any attempt in this regard will prove fatal for it”. He said if the government dared amend the laws, it would be digging its own grave.
Pir Syed Habibur Rehman Irfani, another SIC leader, warned the participants to be on their guard against the machinations of ‘misguided’ parties including the Deobandis, the Jamaat-i-Islami, and the Jamatud Dawa. He said they must not to join their “so called move” to protect the honour of the Holly Prophet (pbuh). He said some leaders and supporters of these were themselves suspect for they appeared to lack due reverence for the Holy Prophet (pbuh).
Mufti Ashraf Asif Jalali, the SIC vice president, said that the blasphemers must be killed. He said they should not even be arrested by the police or prosecuted. He said sympathisers of the blasphemers also deserved the same fate.
Dr Muhammad Raghib Naeemi said all media outlets appeared to have some supporters of anti-Islam elements. He advised the participants to prepare themselves appropriately and join media outlets to counter such anti-Islam elements.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 28th, 2010.
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