Thursday, January 6, 2011

Ulema warn against any change in blasphemy law

The News - Internet Edition
Thursday, January 6, 2011,
Safar 01, 1432 A.H.
Karachi
Ulema warn against any change in blasphemy law

Thursday, January 6, 2011

By Shamim Bano
Karachi

Ulema belonging to different sects warned the government on Wednesday that any change in the blasphemy law would be opposed, and demanded immediate release of the assassin of Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer, Mumtaz Qadri.

Taseer’s murder was a case of divine retribution and the assassin, Mumtaz Qadri, has just demonstrated his steadfast faith, the Ulema said while addressing an All-Parties Conference (APC) organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami at the Idara-i-Noor-i-Haq in connection with Tahfuz-i-Namoos-i-Risalat and responsibilities of the Muslims.

They also asked both the president and the prime minister to dissolve the committee formed to review the blasphemy law, and vowed that the January 9 public meeting would show the strength of the followers of Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa(PBUH) and their love for Allah.

Over a dozen Ulema attended the APC held under the chairmanship of Asadullah Bhutto, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Sindh.

Addressing the APC, Bhutto said that Taseer was killed due his statements “against Namoos-i-Risalat”. He added that this was not the first murder in history as John F Kennedy and Indira Ghandhi also met the same fate when they issued controversial statements. In his strongly worded speech, Bhutto said such incidents would happen in future if the blasphemy law was not implemented.

He said the blasphemy law was promulgated with the consent of all the Ulema. This is the law of the holy Quran and Sunnah and Muslims have faith in it and no assembly can change the Islamic edicts, he said.

No injustice t the family members of Mumtaz Qadri would be tolerated, the JI leader said and demanded that all his family members be immediately released.

He also paid tribute to prayer leaders who refused to lead the Namaz-e-Janaza of Salman Taseer, adding that people by distributing sweets had proved that any change in the blasphemy law would not be tolerated.

He also called upon the president and the prime minister to ensure that no amendment was be made to the law and the private bill submitted by PPP MNA Sherry Rehman was withdrawn.

Mir Nawaz Khan said that Taseer had adopted an “anti-Islami stance” for which he was assassinated.

Addressing the APC, Qazi Ahmed Noorani said that the government should have taken notice of the Taseer’s statement about the law.

The Ulema emphatically stated that any amendment to the law would never be tolerated and anyone who dared change it would meet the same fate as Taseer.

Other speakers included Syed Zia Abbas, Siddique Rathore, Khan, Qari Mohammed Usman, Maulana Abdul Rauf, and Maulana Jaffer Ali Subhani.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=24078&Cat=4&dt=1/6/2011
 
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