Several celebrities, including singer Ali Zafar and actor Samina Peerzada recently took to social media to condemn the use of blasphemy allegations to settle political scores.
The outrage comes after an FIR under blasphemy laws was lodged against PTI chief and former prime minister Imran Khan and other leaders of the previous government in Faisalabad over the recent incident of pilgrims, apparently supporters of the party, surrounding Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's delegation in Masjid-i-Nabwi and shouting slogans.
OKB took to Twitter to write, “Once again, religion is weaponised for political gain.”
Once again, religion is weaponized for political gain.
— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) April 30, 2022
Veteran actor Samina Peerzada, who is a staunch supporter of PTI, asked in a tweet, “Does anyone know the punishment in Islam for those who make false accusations?” referring to the blasphemy case against Imran and the party.
کسی کو معلوم ہے کہ بہتان لگانے والے کیے لئے اسلام میں کیا سزا ہے
— Samina Peerzada (@SaminaSays) May 2, 2022
Singer Ali Zafar wrote, “For God’s sake, stop using religion for political gain and instead of making personal attacks, focus your energies on the betterment of the people. We’ve been seeing this play out since childhood.”
خدا کا واسطہ مذہب کو سیاست کے لئے استعمال کرنا چھور دیں اور ایک دوسرے کی ذاتی کردار کشی کی بجائے لوگوں کی فلاح و بہبود پر تمام تر قوت کا استعمال کریں۔ بچپن سے یہی دیکھتے آئے ہیں۔ دنیاں مریخ پر پیر جمانے کے منصوبے بنا رہی ہے اور ہم زمین پر فساد۔ اپنے دلوں میں رحم پیدا کریں نہیں تو
— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) May 1, 2022
He added, “People in the world are attempting to gain a foothold on Mars and we are fighting on Earth. Make space for mercy in your heart.”
The charges have been registered under sections 295, 295-A, 296, and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The sections relate to harming a place of worship with intent to insult a religion, deliberate and malicious intent to outrage religious sentiment, disturbing religious assembly and abetment.
Those who are named in the FIR include 150 people – Imran, Shahbaz Gill, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Fawad Chaudhry, Qasim Suri, Sahibzada Jahangir and Aneel Musarrat. Rashid’s nephew Sheikh Rashid Shafiq has also been nominated in the case.
Complainant Muhammad Naeem, a resident of Faisalabad, claimed that the incident at the holy site, videos of which went viral, was a "planned out scheme and conspiracy".
He added that the videos shared on social media and speeches made by the PTI leaders prior to the coalition delegation’s visit were proof of the alleged crime.
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