Pakistan

Blasphemy laws: ‘MQM will protect Pakistan from religious tyranny’

MQM chief proposes Jinnah’s minorities speech be made national anthem.

Irfan Aligi March 05, 2011

KARACHI:

Revolution in Pakistan like in the Middle East is inevitable and is approaching fast, but the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) will not allow religious maniacs to take over and impose tyrannical rule, said MQM chief Altaf Hussain on Friday.

He was addressing a large gathering organised by the Defence and Clifton Residents Committee (DCRC) and the Council of Professionals (COP) of the MQM at the DCRC lawn near Two Swords in Clifton.

Hussain urged religious scholars belonging to all schools of thoughts to sit together to review Clause 295 C of the Blasphemy Act and judge it on the touchstone of the Holy Quran and the authentic sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), he said.

He criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for not taking notice of those who had showered rose petals on the assassin of Salmaan Taseer. He said that the PPP was considered a liberal political party, but its silence on the blasphemy issue showed that there was only one liberal party in Pakistan, the MQM.

Hussain ‘proposed’ two resolutions to the audience, which were passed unanimously by a show of hands. The first resolution demanded that the speech that Muhammad Ali Jinnah delivered to the Constitutional Assembly on August 11, 1947, be made part of the syllabus for all students, from class one to PhD level. He said that the speech should serve as a second national anthem that people learn by heart.

The second resolution said there should be no differentiating minorities from the majority in Pakistan. Hussain said anyone who had a Pakistani passport or ID card should be regarded as a Pakistani only.

He urged the youths and students of Defence and Clifton to show their solidarity with the MQM at their schools, colleges and universities. He said that he wanted a very strong MQM office in DHA and Clifton.

Sindh minister Faisal Sabzwari, former city nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, and the heads of the DCRC and COP also addressed the audience.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (19)

Somdet | 13 years ago | Reply @ deep. You got it right. Musharraf is another such braveheart, showering his pearls of wisdom from london. but he is nowadays not to be heard after receiving 3 summons and a Red corner notice. May be he is practising his return to pakistan speech in his toilet. AH is another such braveheart showering the pearls from UK.

UMAR | 13 years ago | Reply @tre: i am not sure were you live and if you are talking about the Pakistan which is in this time like a Jungle and everyone our pray of something, my friend wake up if you are still sleeping something like that its not possible in the country where everything starts from discrimination and racisim.

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Majeed | 13 years ago | Reply How can they protect Pakistan when they have failed miserably in Karachi.

Sher Ahmed Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. William Shakespeare

deep | 13 years ago | Reply Distance makes the heart grow bolder. There it is - solution to Pakistan's ills. Have the Parliament move to London where all the political leaders can be protected. For the all important role of enforcing the legislations issued from London, I would suggest that the police should move to London. And if that does not help, we move Pakistan to London and leave all the taliban types in Afghanistan.

Uza Syed | 13 years ago | Reply Altaf Hussain said, "anyone who had a Pakistani passport or ID card should be regarded as a Pakistani only." ---------------- Absolutely, without any question, this is and must be our one and only identity. I support this and all Pakistanis must support it. Blasphemy Laws are man made laws meant for us Pakistanis -------- and we as Pakistanis have and must assert our rights to review these laws and if necessary make any amendments, changes or outright repeal them. Yes, it should be done with proper consultation and consensus. Everyone must respect this right of Pakistani people. Altaf Hussain is right ------- tyrannical dictation from any mullahs or theocratic dictators are not acceptable. I agree and hope that we all as a nation agree on this. I support Altaf Hussain's this reasonable and democratic stand on this.

Usama Zafar | 13 years ago | Reply Wow!! He's starting to make sense!!

NB | 13 years ago | Reply Full points to Mr. Altaf Hussain for taking the bull by the horns.

shiapak | 13 years ago | Reply too late Altaf Hussain battlelines have already been drawn Shias will not take Sunni killings anymore. We will retaliate and kill in 1000s till sunnis fear us

meherbaan | 13 years ago | Reply Altaf Hussain Come back we love you you are our Mustafa. Mohajirs will show this country the true path and also discipline non mohajirs who don't walk the true path

Garib | 13 years ago | Reply Way to go future President of Sindhudesh =) Greetings from Sindhudesh

Samson Salamat | 13 years ago | Reply I appreciate the speech of Mr. Altaf Hussain and expect that his party will use its influence to ensure that this message reaches to other political forces. Since MQM is part of the government its also important that they take a clear standpoint during the time of legislation, constitutional reformns or policy making. This is a do or die time for Pakistani society and the Pakistani nation should realize that they can only save the multi-religious nature of the Pakistani society by rejecting the agenda of the religious extremists who kill people in the name of religion and are defaming Pakistanis in the whole world. The proposal from Mr. Altaf Hussan of making the Speech of Mr. Jinnah part of speech is realy good one, however it is important also to review the current syllabus to eliminate hate marterial and a monitoring system is also required. Further, I recommend the following: •Human Rights should be included in the curriculum of the schools, colleges and universities to promote human dignity among the students. •An effective monitoring mechanism should be developed to monitor the curriculum and the material which promotes biases and discrimination among the citizens should be banned. •Social, political and religious leadership should raise awareness among the citizens according to the article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which says that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” •All forms of discriminations on the basis of religion, gender, caste, colour and ethnicity should be removed from constitution, laws and policies to ensure that all citizens are treated equally. •The elements involved in spreading religious and sectarian hatred must be treated strictly and the ban of the propagation of hatred should be implemented in letter and spirit.

Khameed | 13 years ago | Reply Well said, about time we make this country a civilized state where all are respected and treated well because they are citizens of Pakistan.

SharifL | 13 years ago | Reply A sensible speech. Down with fanatics who kill

Abdulla | 13 years ago | Reply so Next who verses who? MQM Vs TTP, MQM vs LeJ,JeM,LeT + (mother of all - ISI)

umar | 13 years ago | Reply Looks like the time is coming close for Pakistan, if they did not get rid of that stupid law under the shadow of which they are killing innocent people then something bad will going to happen to them, stop killing poor people in the name of religion and become one nation.

Nazir Habib | 13 years ago | Reply Fantastic ! Ole ! Bravo ! Viva ! Mubarak ! Well said ! This is what unity, faith and discipline are all about. For all and sundry who read this article, please DO read what our Holy Prophet Muhammad (SM) has said in his last address to humanity on the occassion of the last Haj. The Muslims and Pakistan hungrily needs it. Salams to all for 2011 and ever.

UMAR | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan always talk about taking care on minority but know even the whole world knows to faces of this country, all other nation always recognize there people with there nationality but in Pakistan people recognize each other with there religion that why we our not progressing in any field. If you are not muslim you can not achive any major goals in your life. Muslim preachers teaches in there religious center hate and how to kill other peoples and even the Goverment knows about that but does not wants to deal it. Shame Shame on Pakistan and his Muslim people who are so backword in there teaching.

tre | 13 years ago | Reply if you dont like what someone says: walk away, talk about definitions of words to see if there was a misunderstanding, give each other reasons why each other thinks that certain way, change the subject, be optimistic. Never kill, hurt, or arrest someone just because of verbal or written words they said. Dont hurt, arrest, imprison, or deny people outside travel or immigration, if you didnt physically witness them (not video, or dont have accurate physical circumstantial evidence (not words/ video: torture, rape, bodily injury, physically abuse, or attempt to physically abuse (verbal or written words/speech arnt an attempt to physically abuse).

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