CII urges SC to revisit Sani case verdict

ISLAMABAD:

The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has expressed its reservations on the Supreme Court's verdict in the Mubarak Ahmad Sani case, urging it to revisit its July 24 ruling.

The CCI on Thursday issued a statement after a meeting of the Islamic advisory body chaired by the CII Chairman Dr Muhammad Raghib Hussain Naeemi.

According to the statement, there are many aspects of the verdict that the scholars and the CII do not consider correct according to Islamic teachings.

The decision has caused the entire nation to be in a state of anxiety. This is not a matter of legal technicalities but one of faith and love for the Prophet (PBUH). All groups should work together to resolve this issue through mutual understanding, it said.

It said the CII will soon send a detailed report to the Supreme Court, hoping that the SC will soon review this decision. The government, especially the prime minister, should play an effective role in this matter, it added.

On August 4, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) also urged the apex court to reconsider its verdict in the Sani case that permitted Qadianis to preach their faith within their places of worship.

In a statement, the SCBA noted that the recent Supreme Court judgment has rightly concluded that neither Ahmedis/Qadianis are allowed to directly or indirectly pose themselves as Muslims nor can they preach or propagate Islamic principles, in any visible representations whatsoever.

"However, the SCBA views that the latter part of the said paragraph 42, which permits Ahmedis/Qadianis to profess or preach within their places of worship or Jamat Khanas, should be reconsidered.

"They must not be allowed to profess or preach in any manner even within their houses, community centers or in places of worship or Jamat Khanas," it added.

It stated that Qadianis have been engaged in wrongful and malicious interpretations of Islamic principles, the Quran, and the Sunnah, falsely presenting themselves as Muslims.

"Therefore, Sections 295-B and 298-B of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) are applicable to them, even within the premises of their places of worship.

"As such, they must not be permitted to profess or preach openly, inside their houses or otherwise, as their actions directly desecrate the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Islam, the Quran, and the Sunnah. They should be unequivocally declared as apostates," it added.

The SCBA asserted that the particular part of paragraph 42 of the judgment contradicts with Islamic principles, the Quran, and Sunnah.

"In light of the foregoing, and with specific reference to paragraph 42 of the judgment in question, we call upon the Honorable Supreme Court to review the judgment in appropriate proceedings to withdraw paragraph 42 of the judgment," it added.