QUETTA: Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazal group (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday criticised the increasing use of social media, claiming that it was having a negative influence on the society.
Rehman seemed annoyed by use of social media these days, claiming that people use it to make fun of politicians with their edited or photoshopped images with the intent to insult them. He was talking at a media workshop organised by the JUI in Quetta on Wednesday.
The JUI-F chief’s comments came a day after the Saudi grand mufti had termed social media site Twitter as the source of “all evil.”
Rehman said that social media has diverted the youth’s attention from national issues, politics and Islamic values. “The youth is negatively influenced by social media as they are not showing care to their religious values, religious scholars and their leaders. The leaders are even being mocked.”
The JUI-F chief hastened to add that that he was not against social media but mockery of honourable leaders would not be tolerated on social media, adding that the scope of disagreement should not be expanded to the extent that limitations of civilised behavior are forgotten.
Rehamn, Chairman of Kashmir Affairs Committee of Parliament, said that journalism, politics and democracy were inextricably linked with each other and added that it is indeed a welcome move that Dr Tahirul Qadiri finally developed the feeling that the politics of sit-ins was unproductive.
“The politics of sit-ins has been buried whereas the use of social media is alienating our youth from the national, patriotic and Islamic values which is not acceptable at any cost,” he said, adding that “the sit-ins in Islamabad have inflicted irreparable losses upon the country.”
He said that the freedom of media is essential for the health of democracy in the country as there is no concept of freedom of expression in the monarchy and dictatorial set-ups. However, he lamented that their views have always been twisted and then presented on the mainstream media.
COMMENTS (13)
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Well well Well now we know who is halting progress in the name of Islam, they said the same thing for the radio,the television. the telephone, the camera, the vaccine and the list goes on.
Please let us the people decide how to follow our religion in peace and without compulsion.
Ameen ( Amen)
It won't be long before people with Stone-age mindsets will demand a ban on the internet, as social media is dependent on it. In fact, why stop there, telephones also lead to boys and girls talking, which can lead to immorality and promiscuity. Then, of course, buses, motorcycles and cars, because these can be used by youth to interact, leading to pregnancies and abortions. Of course, if girls are forced to be married off at the age of nine, as suggested by the maulana's brother, there will be no need at all for computers, internet and the like, because most of the time girls will be pregnant and would likely die in pregnancy.
....he was not against social media but mockery of honourable leaders Which honorable leaders? The ones who united under the banner of corruption? How these dimwits have influenced us beyong repair.
his Facebook page is kind of cool, don't care much for stone age. i think therefore i am.
Someone should explain the meaning of the word 'leader' to him in any language that he understands be that POL!
This Maulana should look at his own virtues and correct himself before advising others
People like Maulana and his kind will take Pakistan backward not forward. I don't think any country or people want to go back, in my humble opinion.
Ban all social media !!
Molvi Sb, if our "religious scholars" and "leaders" didn’t carry reputation same as the oldest profession in the world, they wouldn’t have been at the receiving end of the youth's flare since they’ve had enough with politicians of your caliber and kind.
O! the sheer irony of this........its beyond hilarious.
Dear Ghostride:: In my humble opinion, Your comment should have correctly said; Maulana, a lot of other things have a negative impact on youth, such as corruption, religious intolerance, lack of modern education etc. etc. You have POSITIVELY impacted all three of them.
Take a lesson and an example from His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan..........and not from these Saudi retarded clergies!
Such an old-fashioned Musalman is a stumbling block and like a slippery banana peel in the middle of way for the progressive orientated youth of Pakistan.
Maulana alot of other things have a negative impact on youth such as corruption, religious intolerance, lack of modern education etc etc. You have negatively impacted all three of them