Mr Malik does not seem to know that many Turkish ulemas dress the way Dr Qadri dresses.
LAHORE: Interior Minister Rehman Malik recently made a statement, referring to Dr Tahirul Qadri, in which he said that “Qadri looks like a Pope”. This was basically an attempt to taunt Dr Qadri for the dress and the cap he wears. Mr Malik does not seem to know that many Turkish ulemas dress the way Dr Qadri dresses. Perhaps, he has not seen the pictures of the mufti of Palestine. It is quite obvious that he has not graduated into the wider world.
Second, and more importantly, by making a statement like this, Mr Malik has again shown himself to be an insensitive person. The Pope is a revered figure for millions of Catholics all over the world. In that capacity, he is a respected world figure. Why make a taunt and hurt the feelings of millions of the Pope’s followers? Mr Malik’s words show that deep down, he does not have much respect for one of the biggest religious communities in the world and Pakistan’s own minorities. Such a man need not remain in any responsible position of authority.
Sajjad Ashraf
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2013.
