Express News screengrab of JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman.
"Terrorism does not differentiate between religion and secularism," the JUI-F chief said, while addressing the media shortly after the approval of the 21st Constitutional Amendment Bill and Pakistan Army Act 1952 (Amendment) Bill 2015 in the National Assembly today.
"We expressed our reservations over the bills, and how they will create a division between religious and non-religious parties," the JUI-F chief said.
"Pakistan is an Islamic state, and it will not be made a secular state," he said.
He reiterated that the prime minister did not take his party into confidence regarding the amendments.
The JUI-F and the Jamaat-e-Islami abstained from voting for or against the bill today, to which Fazl said, "We avoided committing a sin today by abstaining from voting."
"Whether it is a secular country or a non-secular country, the nation should unite to fight against terror," he added.
"We were told today that two government representatives would speak with us, in order for us to present our reservations. However, when they came to us, the bill was already being passed," he said, questioning the sort of talks they were.
COMMENTS (34)
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Moulana simply wants to appease his Taliban supporters.
Sorry to Maulana. It is interesting that nobody noticed the statement delivered by the Maulana "We expressed our reservations over the bills, and how they will create a division between religious and non-religious parties”. Does it seem true that except JUI-F and JI, all other parties are called as non-religious. Maulana sahib should avoid by throwing such words freely in the Media because you are not the same as Mufti Mahmood sahib. Do you agree or otherwise....
If the apparent mood of the establishment is to be believed, it appears that the policy of harbouring terrorists for a possible use in times of foreign incursion is about to end. General Zia watered this horrific plant and these moulanas receive their oxygen for their politics as long as terrorism prevail in the country.
@ABKhan: if he was Mian sahib's friend then PTI won't be having govt in KPK.
Religion is not, but religious fanaticism is, of course, the root cause of the current mess we are in, and no one else is responsible for this fanaticism, but by the religious leaders of JUI (F), JI, and the ilk, and a civilian leader Bhutto when they took the responsibility in 1974 of judging who is a good Muslim and who is not. Military entered in the game much later.
“Pakistan is an Islamic state, and it will not be made a secular state,” he said.
Yes it will be made secular InshAllah... Roll up your sleeves maulana sahib, we are doing the same...
state has no religion and secularism doesn't mean being infidel...people like this so called maulana are the real terrorists!
For once Maulana has got it right. Yes their is link between the two not only in Pakistan but look at Saudi Arabia your patron in chief arresting AlQaeda and ISIS under terrorism charges
@ABKhan: And what about Imran Khan? He endorsed being Taliban Khan.
Maulana! Its time now; Tell us who's side are you on? TTP or PakArmy? We know Jamaat Islami, they already claimed the TTP terrorist who claim to be behind 50,000 plus murders of Innocent Pak citizens shall be called Shaheed if they get killed fighting Pak Peoples's Army! We are going to deal with them soon. So now Sir, You have to pick your side! Oh, By the way have you ever condemn any killing Claimed by TTP? Because that set you SIDE. But your party was against Pak Creation and so your favorite Country that you want to change should be India not Pakistan. You are FREE to go to where you feel home, but do not support ruthless extremists and try to be Pakistani too. Not just that, you and your "friends" must NOW reject TTP and all such armed and hostile to Pak Army groups, parties or clans,,, to be allowed to live peacefully in Pakistan. Pakistan is seeing a new DAY and believe me you and your like are going to have a toughest day ahead, Lets Play!
Maulana is the most opportunist and self-gratifying political leader in the country who only can obe tamed and brought into submission by ministerial portfolios.
Maulana always swims with tide.. He is well known to change his length and line to facilitate the batting team at the pitch. It is a fact that most qaris and mullahs in TTP are the product of seminaries. There is a clear link between seminaries and extremism. The government must close all small seminaries that have sprung up in every nook and corner of big cities, only selected seminaries be allowed to operate under strict government control. It should also be made to teach mainstream curriculum including English and Science along with religious texts.
If it's such a big 'sin'. Then you, Mr. Fazl-ur-Righteous, should resign from the Kasmir committee as this sinful government awarded that post to you.
These mullahs should be skinned alive for their hypocrisy. They behave as if they own the religion and they can sell it as they please. Morons !
So sick of him, these TTP sympathizers live among us openly and we dont have the courage to protest against them?
Referring to the abstention from voting for or against the 21st Constitutional Amendment Bill 2015 and Pakistan Army Act 1952 (Amendment) Bill 2015 by Jamaat-e-Islami and JUI-F, Maulana Fazlur Rehman termed the abstention as avoidance of committing a sin.
However, I have heard some religious scholars say on television that sitting on the fence is not permissible in Islam. If there is a tussle between two opposing viewpoints, one must join the side he considers to be on the right and oppose that in the wrong.
So, if you see someone doing something wrong, you must take one of the following steps:
(1) Use force to stop the persons committing wrong.
(2) In case of not having adequate power to stop the wrong by force, declare it wrong by word of mouth or in writing
(3) Failing to possess the power even to oppose the thing verbally, at least consider it wrong within your heart of hearts.
Now, Maulana Fazl did talk against the move in public, which falls in category 2, but then this option is available only to persons who lack power to try to stop by force the wrong being done, but that is not the case here. Obviously, both Jamaat-e-Islami and JUI-F could have at least tried to stop the move by voting against the resolutions - which incidentally was also the maximum they could have done in this case - but they did nothing of the kind and just sat comfortably on the fence. So I am not quite sure that they did in fact avoid committing a sin by abstaining from voting.
I may add here that I do not possess any in-depth knowledge of religion so I could be wrong in my interpretation of things, but that is basically how I feel on this issue.
Karachi
Fazal ur rehman's abstention from voting on 21st amendment in the constitution is couched in hypocracy . If his party felt so strong about the amendments and a divide between Islam and secularism the party should have had the spine to oppose the amendments in the house . He claims by avoiding presence he has avoided a sin . Infact , if a sinful act has ever taken place then he is equally culpable . Slots in the cabinet and chairman ship of Islamic ideology is not good enough . The government should offer some more crumbs to keep him on the right side .
You and your party lost the case against Jinnah in 1947.Remember your party opposed the creation of Pakistan tooth and nail.Your party was on the side of Congress.Your party was paid by Congress to oppose Jinnah.You have no right to talk about future of Pakistan.Facts are facts.
its time to admit that the terrorists use the religion as a tool to promote their political designs. so what would you call the religious intolerance, sectarianism, and extremism.
An opportunist of the highest order and nothing else. His credibility is such that he got deported from Dubai in 2005 and in Wikileaks it was clearly revealed how he openly priced his position.
If it was such a big sin, why abstain? Why not vote against it.
It is because of the 'sins' committed by so called religious political parties that we are seeing terrorism in our country. Don't try to use religion to gain your political objectives.
hypocrite
How come you abstained? Are you for or against the amendments? If you are not sure please step down from your post voluntarily because of your age.
Rex Minor
Yes Pakistan is a Islamic state but not Thugs state which you and ilk have made it.The war is against religious thugs who have ruthlessly used religion for vested interests.
Mr. Rheman is getting spooked for no reason I'm sure, but even that was the intent of government I for one will whole heartedly support deep separation of religion and politics.
You are an enemy of the state!
Chief of his own of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam?
What has he done whenever Shias or ahmedis are killed? He will lose if financing of these seminaries is checked. I think it's clear where he stands in this fight against hate ideology
Religion is not, but religious fanaticism is, of course, the root cause of the current mess we are in, and no one else is responsible for this fanaticism, but by the religious leaders of JUI (F), JI, and the ilk, and a civilian leader Bhutto when they took the responsibility in 1974 of judging who is a good Muslim and who is not. Military entered in the game much later.
Yes it is indeed disgusting that after witnessing contineous violence, government still trying to link it with religion. When we know for the fact that religion is the biggest source of violence in Pakistan and you are one of its foremost supporters.
Excuse me, Maulana.... But the people who did the did the horrible act in Peshawar claim and justify it to be in the name of religion and not to mention the countless other attrocities are also claimed and justified that way. Please stop playing politics over the issue and admit that majority of the terrorism, extremism and bigotry in Pakistan is conducted in the name of religion.
He is the partner of Mian Sahab. One can easily guess the personality of Mian Sahab from his friends