Fawad urges clerics to help fight ‘war of ideology’

Says protest over Aasia Bibi verdict were to serve political agendas, not religion

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has asked religious leaders and members of society to play their role in order to avoid the ‘war of ideologies’.

Addressing a seminar here on Sunday, the information minister termed recent protests led by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan and other religious groups following the acquittal of Aasia Bibi, a societal crisis.  A series of nationwide protests and demonstrations were launched right after the Supreme Court acquitted Aasia, a Christian woman in an alleged blasphemy case.

“People, who locked down several cities, were not serving religion but their own political agendas,” claimed Chaudhry underscoring, “The country is going through an ideological crisis not a political one”.

The various demonstrations observed across multiple cities had brought the country to a standstill for nearly three days as educational institutions, businesses and transport services remained closed. The protests also caused billions in loss to the national exchequer as a group of miscreants torched and looted public and private property.



“This is an ideological war that should be fought with argument and logic rather than weapons,” he maintained urging religious leaders and society to play their part in this bout against “extremist ideas.”

The minister also defined love for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as the basis of Islam while alleging that a group is however trying to use the Aasia Bibi case solely for their own gain.

“Some elements are trying to do politics under the garb of religion and those seeking anarchy were devoid of the power of argument,” he said, maintaining that it is the responsibility of the state to provide an environment where everyone can present their arguments without fear.

Talking more about this growing crisis, Chaudhry said, “You know an ideological crisis is taking birth when people start protesting against an apex court verdict, which no one has even read while not being able to present an argument to justify their actions.”

“On one side we had people armed with not only an argument but also weapons while on the other side there were unarmed people with a counter-argument, the state’s failure was that it couldn’t protect the latter,” lamented the information minister, adding until the federation could ensure a level playing ground for everyone, the crisis couldn’t be fixed.

He also called on different religious segments of society to play their role in countering these groups, “religious groups should have been the first ones to revolt against these people,” he said.



The federal minister further assured the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government will support the religious leadership of the country in preventing this ideological crisis from escalating. “Religious leaders should assist the government in spreading the message of love of the Holy Prophet (PBUH),” he said.

“The PTI government is committed to making Pakistan a social welfare state in line with the state of Madina and measures are being taken to achieve this goal,” said the minister while assuring that minorities will be given their due rights and there would be no compromise on that.

Meanwhile, Chaudhry highlighted the government was marking the 12th of Rabiul Awwal at official level for the first time ever by organising special ceremonies across Pakistan.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the Rehmatul-lil-Aalameen Conference on November 20,” he announced, adding that it will be a national level conference to be graced by the Imaam-e-Kaaba while several renowned scholars from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other Islamic countries will also attend the event. “Kashmiri leader Mir Waiz Omar Farooq will also address the conference via communication facility,” he disclosed.

Chaudhry also indicated that President Dr Arif Alvi will be the chief guest of the concluding ceremony of this grand event. Mahafil-e-Naat and Samaa will also be held in Lahore and other major cities, he highlighted.

Responding to a question, the information minister said the PTI government would restore prestige of the country at international level. “Menace of corruption cannot be eliminated until the powerful circles are made accountable,” he underscored.