‘Some scholars hesitate to condemn suicide attacks’
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs said that religious scholars often hesitate to condemn suicide attacks.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Hamid Kazmi said on Sunday that religious scholars often hesitate to condemn suicide attacks which leaves doubt in people’s minds with regards to such attack’s permissibility in Islam.
While talking to reporters, he said that although no renowned scholar has declared suicide bombings as being in line with Islamic teachings, some scholars try explaining terrorists’ actions by attributing them to government policies and drone attacks, which confuses people. “I would say that by this logic even robbers have reasons for committing robbery. It needs to be highlighted that to counter terrorism what is really required is enlightening the masses,” the minister said.
He also said that terrorists are not serving Islam and that they cannot be expected to be going to heaven for killing innocent people. Kazmi said it was not correct to criticise security arrangements as stopping suicide attacks is a very difficult task. He added that the terrorists previously attacked law enforcement agencies to dent their morale and create an impression that if security officials cannot protect themselves they cannot be expected to protect the public.
Kazmi termed the Data Darbar attacks a conspiracy to create sectarian rift. Commenting on a possibility of the involvement of foreign forces in terrorist attacks in Pakistan, he said there could be such an involvement. “Our people are being used by our enemies,” he said.
To a question on the possibility of government resorting to dialogue with the Taliban, Kazmi said, “Dialogue at gunpoint is not possible.”
Published in the Express Tribune, July 5th, 2010.
While talking to reporters, he said that although no renowned scholar has declared suicide bombings as being in line with Islamic teachings, some scholars try explaining terrorists’ actions by attributing them to government policies and drone attacks, which confuses people. “I would say that by this logic even robbers have reasons for committing robbery. It needs to be highlighted that to counter terrorism what is really required is enlightening the masses,” the minister said.
He also said that terrorists are not serving Islam and that they cannot be expected to be going to heaven for killing innocent people. Kazmi said it was not correct to criticise security arrangements as stopping suicide attacks is a very difficult task. He added that the terrorists previously attacked law enforcement agencies to dent their morale and create an impression that if security officials cannot protect themselves they cannot be expected to protect the public.
Kazmi termed the Data Darbar attacks a conspiracy to create sectarian rift. Commenting on a possibility of the involvement of foreign forces in terrorist attacks in Pakistan, he said there could be such an involvement. “Our people are being used by our enemies,” he said.
To a question on the possibility of government resorting to dialogue with the Taliban, Kazmi said, “Dialogue at gunpoint is not possible.”
Published in the Express Tribune, July 5th, 2010.