Pakistan

Wafaqul Madaris wants Bakhtiar to quit

Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar asked to quit after recommending lifting ban on sale of liquor in govt run restaurants.

Zahid Gishkori October 26, 2010

ISLAMABAD: An umbrella organisation of Deobandi seminaries across Pakistan has asked a woman senator to quit her office for a controversial statement.

The media last week quoted Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar as saying that the Senate standing committee on tourism would recommend lifting of a ban on the sale of liquor in government-run restaurants, enabling them to overcome the financial crunch.

“Nilofar defamed Islam when she was a federal minister in Shaukat Aziz’s cabinet. She resigned amid strict criticism of her alleged involvement in a controversial parachute jump in France which could never be exercised by a Muslim woman,” said a statement issued by Wafaqul Madaris al Arbia Pakistan.

The organisation has urged PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to cancel her membership and impose a lifetime ban on her. “Nilofar should seek forgiveness for giving un-Islamic statements.”

Lifting the ban on liquor will put the country on the verge of collapse and will encourage people to violate the constitutional identity of the state, the statement said.

Meanwhile, Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar told The Express Tribune that her statement was misinterpreted in the media. “I never said that the ban should be lifted on liquor for Muslims,” she said, adding, “The ban should be lifted for foreigners who visit Pakistan frequently.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (6)

Noor Nabi | 14 years ago | Reply Lift the ban for all. These maulvis are no different than the Roman Catholic priests.

Syed Nadir El-Edroos | 14 years ago | Reply What a waste of time, these maulvis cant condemn terrorism, the exploitation of the poor, discrimination against minorities, but can line up to condemn something that is happening openly. If we are such good Muslims, then it shouldnt matter if bottles of alcohol are stacked up high!

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Razi | 14 years ago | Reply I am unable to understand the concept of molvis who think that they are the one who can protect Islam. There was no molvi at the time of Prophet or before. Then who are they and where they come from. If Islam revoled around a moulvi, the religion might have been doomed way back after the death of last Prophet.

Citizen | 14 years ago | Reply There is no prohibition of drinking alchohal at home, why to make it a law then.A common citizen can not afford to have this luxury. The priviliged class who rules us has already bars in their houses and still called true muslims, leaders and sometimes saints. This class includes all burocrates, molvis, politician and armed forces personnels. We are a hypocrate society and such socities perished in the past when nature comes into action.

MAD | 14 years ago | Reply If you want to ban alcohol it should be done so restrospectively and fairly and the ban should apply to everyone. whats happenning today is a mockery. alcohol might as well be regulated, that would probvably be better. why not just tax it to the point where it becomes prohibitively expensive. Ideally alcohol should be banned and I would support such a ban. but what we see today is a joke.

reader | 14 years ago | Reply We idiots fails to see the light during the day, everyday across the metropolis thousands of bottles of liquor are sold while the law enforcers protect those who sell even during broad daylight, the suppliers in posh area's supply in a single phone call, women have also taken to drinking, so if we allow this openly, in my opinion this will reduce crime...as those who drink will openly buy without fear of being caught by the police or else seal all liquor shop throughout the country, even the ministers must not be allowed to drink or serve the foreign diplomats...the debate is too long...nothing can be achieved by declaring Ms. Bakhtiar as kafir or ?????

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