Shahbaz Taseer abduction splits Barelvi group
The spokesman of a Barelvi group that had called for the assassination of Salmaan Taseer is under fire from colleagues for condemning the kidnapping of Shahbaz Taseer, the slain governor’s son.
Ziaul Haq Naqshbandi, the spokesman for Tahafuz Namoos-i-Risalat Mahaz (TNRM) and president of the Fikr Writers Forum, issued a press statement a few days ago condemning Shahbaz Taseer’s abduction and calling on religious parties to do the same. He said that it was un-Islamic to punish someone “for the sins of his parents”.
Naqshbandi told The Express Tribune that he had been criticised by his party colleagues and they were threatening to expel him for issuing a statement “in favour of the son of a blasphemer”.
Salmaan Taseer was gunned down in January by a member of his security detail, Mumtaz Qadri, who boasted that his motive was to punish the governor for his alleged blasphemy through opposition to the ‘blasphemy’ laws. TNRM representative Mufti Pir Afzal Qadri had at an earlier public rally declared that it was permissible to kill Taseer as he had disrespected the Holy Prophet (pbuh), and his killer would go to heaven.
Naqshbandi, speaking to The Tribune on Saturday, justified the TNRM campaign against Taseer, but added that it was unfair to target the rest of the family. He said many clerics agreed with him about Shahbaz, but some “illiterate and fanatical” clerics were demanding that he withdraw his statement. “People in my own party have been calling me and saying to my face that I have committed a blunder,” he said.
The TNRM spokesman said he stood by his statement. He said he didn’t think a religious group was behind the kidnapping, but whoever it was had committed an un-Islamic act and was not a representative of Islam. “The religious parties must come forward in support of Shahbaz Taseer’s recovery to portray the true image of Islam,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2011.
COMMENTS (48)
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We are living without law n order due to weak govt.
@Abdul Rehman Gilani
There is no punishment in Quran for blasphemy. What about Imam Abu Hanifa?
@R. Khan:
Enjoy your time there! :D
@Sad Panda:
My friend, poverty has existed since all of time, even in the best of administration, and loads of opportunity, there will always be haves and havenots.Poverty can be reduced, not abolished. And by the way, where in the Noble Qur'an or Hadis is it written that this punishment will only apply if there is not a single poor person in the country! What about the punishment of rape then?
But the poor liberals who love declaring others insolent are themselves devoid of rationality, calling me "children of Zia" or anything isnt adding substance to your weightless argument. But still, my point was that if a law is not implemented by countries, it does not prove its unIslamic! The Federal Shariat Court's decision is ample evidence of the validation of this law.
@Aadersh:
People like Mufti Pir Afzal Qadri who incite violence against other human beings aren't worthy of being called Muslims.
@Gilani. Amputation of hand is only allowed in an Islamic welfare state where there are no takers for zakats even if its announced from the mosque that there is zakat available for poor. If you care to read islamic law in detail you will find this little nugget which I just shared with you.I do not think there is any muslim country which can say that they have completely eradicated poverty. You want to start cutting hands in a country where there are 50% of the people living hand to mouth, I bet you are for it. The "childeren of zia" hates logic and decline to read anything which contradicts there view of the world. As usual you decide not to back your arguments with facts but try to attach others who ask you a legitimate question.
@farah:
Nope, I think liberal fascists drowned in the ocean is better, not that I am declaring mullahs to be innocent.
@faraz: Punishment for theft in Islam is amputation of the hand, now tell me how many countries have implemented it, and if they havent, will that logic show its unIslamic!?
P.S. To the ET moderator here,
Kindly do not add extra words to comments.
We are first human beings then follow any religion. Therefore we dont know who has kidnapped the son of salman taseer.However the killing of Salman Taseer was murder, the murderer must be hanged and anyone instigating should also be arrested including the people mentioned in the story.
Pakistan has become a cesspool of fundamentalist mafia. These ignorant mullahs are the filth of history. Looks like God has hung up the phone on Pakistan.
If these Mullah's would be in Heaven, I prefer to go to "Hell"!
Repeatedly saying, he is in trouble but not in danger, it is high figure with which bargaining can be done, outfits are going to move but waiting a proper and right time when they feel risk is not exist.
@Gilani
Only 3 Muslim countries prescribe death punishment for Blasphemy. Which 1.5 billion are you talking about. Majority disagrees with Federal Shariat court
Mr. naqshbandi, This is real jihad and you are the MAN. This is the kind of muslim who can make a change not a common thugs.
Why cant history repeat itself? Pack these mullahs up.Put them on a ship and voila!!! SINK IT IN THE OCEANS!!!
Very sad state of affairs in Pakistan. Our people need some serious education.
@Gilani. Blasphemy law is applicable on 1.5 billion muslims? You have a right to your views but please do not share these kinds of gems with us. Again, this article is about a young abducted man and you are trying to create unnecessary diversion. Maybe you are implying that its totally islamic to abduct Shahbaz Taseer since his father, according to you, is a blasphemer? @T.R. Khan, I concur with you.
The sad Part is that Barelvi clerics are considered the most tolerant among the Mullahs, The only non-militant sect left in Pakistan, who claim to be followers of Sufi tradition, if this is the way they behave God knows what the Extreme Fundamentalists Saudi brand mullahs will do..
Lack of commen sense and understanding. Very aggravated on "sins of father". is telling the truth, standing by a a helpless christian woman , sin ? Ridiculously Stupid!!!!!
The blasphemy law is completely Islamic, the Federal Shariat Court’s decision is ample proof of it. The blasphemy law is binding on all the 1.5 billion muslims around the world since Federal Shariat court rectified it and not only on Pakistani muslims.
So who are these unnamed party colleagues of Maulana Zia ul Haq Naqshbandi sahib? Any names? Without names it looks like a totally fabricated issue.
@Seher Siddiqui: we all know that his abduction is part of buisness issues of his family.. nothing to do with any cleric , sect or cult... its just we got a chance to play around with a conspiracy theory... arent we all 'Sadists'.. be leftists or rightists...
I am very afraid on media's behave they are overlooking continuously all the predictions commentators,writers are made to public through express tribune.
It is an admitted fact that some time commentator or writer guess lead the persons in operation to the destination just like some dream which come true many times.
No doubt, you have authority to delete or amend the comments,but before should consider some of its parts attributed to the existing circumstance and facts,thanks,
Sultan Ahmed.
@Naveeda Shaikh: the pakistanis you need to "get up" do not read english language newspapers. if you guys wish to save your country, fight the good fight in the vernacular press.
Police has failed to find him, it is not new, Police has best record in such matter.
@Saleem: Yeah, just like Osama Bin Laden of Al-Qaeda, we have Kamal of the secularists. LOL. stay phobic of religion.
The mullahs who are asking Zia ul Haq Nakshbandi to withdraw his statement in favour of the son of Salman Taseer are challenging Quraan.The Holy Book specifically states that no one shall bear the burden of other. So how can the son of Salman Taseer be held responsible for the sin of his father, if it was a sin,Hence the mullahs are themselves blaspheming the Quraan.
@Seher Siddiqui. Well said.
Alas, I miss Kamal Ata Turk
One who breaks an unjust law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Imam Abu Hanifa didnt prescribe death punishment for non-Muslims; the law is unislamic
When a mullah issues verdict that Mumtaz Qadri will go to heaven and Salman Taseer will go hell he is assuming the role of ALLAH and is thus wajib ul qatal. I invite Mullahs to debate on this inference.
the motive behind the kidnapping of Shahbaz taseer seems like, the kidnappers want to get mumtaz qadri out of the jail as the ransom.
The blasphemy law is completely Islamic, the Federal Shariat Court's decision is ample proof of it.
It has meanwhile less to do with the verdicts of these clergymen, but rather more to do with the predominantly majority of Pakistani people who entitle them power, blindly believe and follow their mental defective fatwas.......either actively or passively!
What happened with Salman Taseer was unfair, if they think he has done blasphemy, take him to court, as simple as that. And for people bashing Blasphemy Law or saying no such thing exists in Islam, go read Hadith books or those on Islamic History and then talk.
@ET...Plz Stop pointing people with their sect when they r involved in any sort of ill-mannered activities...We all r Muslims first...
Why is common sense not at all common anymore! Salman Taseer didn't commit any sin. He was just speaking in favor of Pakistan's minority, what's wrong in that? And these Fanatics need to understand that this law is man made, 'Not' GOD made please!
This qualifies as a death threat.
such newz traumatize me ...Is ds islam ??? to kill to abduct to torture people?? in PAK sum religious mullanahz hav occupied islam as its deir own legacy n dey can do wt ever dey wish...n peopl of pak blindly follow dem dey hav been hypnotised by dese mullahs ......n m sorry to sa evn in ds cntury peopl still follow dem n its da result tda we r facing so much social problems...islam has been tagged as terrorist religion ......i just wana ask dese so called mullahs y dey dnt give fatwa of murder fr dose rapists who rape n murder innocent childrn?? y dey dnt cum out against da social moral less activities happning in society?? wt about da innocent peopl who hav been killed in name of islam fr last many yrz?? almost 37000 peopl hav been killed in terorist attaks in pak fr last 8 yrz y dese mullahs dnt hav processions n rallys in deir support?? is islam just confined to killing n torturing peopl in name of PROPHET(PBUH)??
What sins of the father?
Telling the truth is now a sin in the eyes of our maulvis??
"TNRM representative Mufti Pir Afzal Qadri had at an earlier public rally declared that it was permissible to kill Taseer as he had disrespected the Holy Prophet (pbuh), and his killer would go to heaven."
This is extreme incitement to violence, without doubt contrary to the teachings of Islam and against human rights.
Yet, we all tolerate this tirade, like we have tolerated for decades the wajab ul qatal calls against a section of our people.
This is portraying true image of Islam?
I am admonished to read that few clerics have claimed it permissible to kill somebody and gave him a gift of heaven who has put a family in the hell for the whole their life.
Enough is enough now. Get up Pakistanis. Get up.