Punjab governor rules out change in blasphemy law

	Friday, January 28, 2011, Safar 23, 1432 A.H.
National
Punjab governor rules out change in blasphemy law

By our correspondent
Friday, January 28, 2011

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khosa has ruled out an amendment to the blasphemy law and asserted that no such plan is under consideration.

Talking to the media after meeting JI Ameer Syed Munawwar Hasan at Mansoorah on Thursday, Khosa dispelled the impression that the PPP was amending the blasphemy law. He said the government had no such plan and asserted that the PPP would defend the Namoos-e-Risalat till the last drop of blood.

He clarified that the fact-finding committee, constituted by President Asif Ali Zardari, was merely aimed at stopping the path of any bill by any member on the private member’s day in the National Assembly.

The governor said he had come to meet the JI leadership in pursuance of the PPP’s policy of national reconciliation, adding that he had also invited Syed Munawwar Hasan to visit the Governor’s House.

Munawwar Hasan demanded the government to take notice of statements by the US government and Pope Benedict XVI on granting pardon to Asia Bibi and the government must dispel ‘misunderstandings’ in this regard.

He also demanded expulsion of representative of the Vatican City from Pakistan. Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed and PPP cabinet members from the Punjab, including Ashraf Khan Sohna, Farooq Yusuf Ghurki and JI leader Liaquat Baloch were also present.

Meanwhile, PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said that the party will participate in the January 30 rally as it does not use the blasphemy issue as a political tool like the PML-N and won’t let anyone change a word in the blasphemy laws.

According to a press statement on Thursday, he said the PML-Q was not afraid of fake cases being registered against its workers and leaders by the Punjab government. He said the PML-Q trusted the judiciary completely and had come out clean from all the politically-motivated cases.

He said the PML-Q would not refrain from taking any step to guard the sanctity of the blasphemy laws. He said the issue of blasphemy was close to the heart of not just the Pakistani people but the Muslim Ummah as a whole and the PML-Q understood the significance and sanctity of the blasphemy law.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=28146&Cat=2

Religious frenzy grips Pakistan

Thursday, January 20, 2010, Safar 14, 1432 

Religious frenzy grips Pakistan

Random Thoughts

Burhanuddin Hasan

There is hardly any doubt that Muslims, can lay down their lives to uphold and protect the honour and dignity of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him). His name comes after God in Quran and as Maulana Roomi says “You are ,in short, the most exalted after God.” In Sura Al Ahzab God says “God and His angels shower blessing on the Prophet (PBUH). O believers you too send darood and salam to him (PBUH)”. The Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) has the most exalted position among all Prophets sent by God. He (PBUH) was the only one called to the heavens by God on the night of Mairaj to honour him (PBUH) with his nearness. How can any Muslim have the courage to say a single word against his (PBUH) honour? If anybody does, he should be given death sentence with the due process of law. The Blasphemy Law was enacted during General Ziaul Haq’s rule. This was a man-made law and like all man-made laws could be reviewed from time to time if it is being misused by human beings like all laws. It is not a divine law enacted by God in Quran like some other laws. There are 57 Muslim countries in the world which, do not have any such law on their Statute Books.

The Blasphemy Law has been used in some cases in Pakistan and culprits have been punished if their crime was proved in a court of law. The punishment was awarded by a judge like all punishments. Nobody should take this law into his or her hands and execute the culprit without the due process. In the case of a Christian girl Asia; she was booked under the Blasphemy Law and was awarded death penalty by a court of law. She sent a mercy petition to the Governor of Punjab Mr Salman Taseer who met her in good faith and promised to take up her mercy petition with the President for favourable consideration. He had a feeling that the girl might have been framed like many other cases of Blasphemy. Media unduly sensationalized this story as it does in many such cases these days to gain popularity.

The JUI Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman who had left the Government on the sacking of one of his ministers in the Federal Cabinet by Prime Minister Gilani, pounced on this issue to take his revenge and gave a call for a nationwide agitation on the issue of Namoos-e-Risaalat, which was totally out of context but could add fuel to the fire of his revenge against the Prime Minister. All religious parties, which keep waiting for such an opportunity to hit the government, joined the agitation taking out big rallies all over the country. It should never be forgotten that these parties; particularly Jamat-e-Islami and the Deobandi group represented by Maulana Fazlur Rehman have always been against the very concept of Pakistan promoted by Iqbal and Jinnah for the Muslims of India as a modern forward looking State as against a theocratic one which was the demand of religious parties..However, when Pakistan came into being they converged on it to change its ideology. They did not succeed but they keep trying. Iqbal who was a great philosopher and scholar of Islam has written a lot about the ignorance of Mullahs.

But it is regrettable that our educational institutions are not teaching these words to our youth who are blindly following the very Mullahs who were against Pakistan. Returning to the tragic murder of Salman Taseer by his misguided security guard who is being idolized by some youth under the influence of the Mullahs is highly regrettable. They should realize that this was not a case of violation of the Holy Prophet’s Namoos (Naoozo Billah). It was a humanitarian effort and his duty as the Governor of Punjab to find out whether a girl belonging to the Christian minority community who claims that she has been falsely framed in a crime she did not commit, is right or wrong? It was his duty to put the girl’s petition to the President. This was by no means a violation of the Namoos-e Risaalat .The security guard who was on duty to protect the life of the Governor, is guilty of murder and will certainly be punished. Those who are idolizing him should also be punished.

It seems the government which is surrounded by all sorts of fears for its survival is hesitating to take bold action against the political parties which have opened the Pandora’s Box over the blasphemy issue at this time when the country is facing economic crises, religious terrorism and corruption. This matter if not tackled with courage and bold action against those elements that unnecessarily launched a mass hysteria on this highly explosive issue, may destabilize the country. One would expect the Supreme Court to take notice of this issue and take action against the criminal elements who are exploiting the name of Islam for an issue which is basically legal.

The media too needs to be directed to use restraint in reporting and commenting on the delicate and sensitive subject of blasphemy. Full marks to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who has raised his voice in defense of minority communities and has denounced the uncalled for religious frenzy, let loose by the Mullahs which may destabilize the country.

© Pakistan Observer 1998-2011, All rights reserved
URL: http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=72090

Rally against changes in blasphemy laws

	Tuesday, January 18, 2011, Safar 13, 1432 A.H.
Lahore
Rally against changes in blasphemy laws

By Our Correspondent
LAHORE

TRAFFIC on and around The Mall came to an absolute halt and remained choked for over three hours on Monday evening after Tahaffuz Namoos-e-Risalat Mahaz (TNRM) took out a large rally against the moves to amend blasphemy laws of Holy Prophet (SAW), particularly the demand by Pope Benedict to repeal the legislation, besides expressing solidarity with Mumtaz Qadri, the Elite Police guard who gunned down former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer.

The protestors riding trucks, wagons and other vehicles marched from Data Darbar to Governor’s House in over two hours while the police blocked the roads leading to The Mall, which caused a massive traffic mess. Long queues of vehicles were lined up in every direction during the closing hours in the evening causing serious problems to commuters in a rush to reach home.

Addressing the slogan chanting and banners waving protesters, TNRM leaders demanded an immediate end to the moves for amending blasphemy laws by dissolving the parliamentary committee headed by Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti and withdrawal of the bill tabled by Sherry Rehman. They also demanded exoneration of Mumtaz Qadri and bringing an end to vulgarity on media.

The TNRM leaders also announced to take out another rally in support of Mumtaz Qadri on January 19 (tomorrow), which would march from Lahore to Rawalpindi up to the house of Mumtaz Qadri for expressing solidarity with him.

TNRM president Allama Raza-e-Mustafa said rulers must display with their actions that they cared for the sentiments and emotions of 98 per cent Muslim majority in Pakistan and shun the anti-people policies of trampling their religious feelings and subjecting them to price hike and inflation.

Raghib Naeemi said silence of so-called liberals over Pope Benedict’s absurd demand had forced Pakistanis to come out on streets. Dr Ashraf Asif Jalali said the world must see that 98 per cent Muslims backed Mumtaz Qadri and consider them as their hero.

Naeem Noori warned the rulers against plundering public wealth and enforcing secularism in place of Islam, saying that Islam loving people would throw them out of power. Mohammad Ali Naqshbandi said Muslims in Pakistan would never allow the western conspiracy against blasphemy laws succeed in the country and guard the Islamic laws with their lives.

Others who addressed the protesters included Mohammad Ali Naqshbandi, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, Naeem Javed Noori, Shaukat Qadri, Nawaz Bashir Jalali, Ziaul Haq Naqshbandi, Ajmal Shah Gilani, Haseeb Qadri, Mufti Masoodur Rehman, Mujahdi Abdul Rasool, Mohammad Khan Leghari and others.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=26241&Cat=5&dt=1/18/2011

JI asks MQM to clarify stand on blasphemy law

	Friday, January 13, 2011, Safar 08, 1432 A.H.
Karachi
JI asks MQM to clarify stand on blasphemy law

By our correspondent
Karachi

The Jamat-e-Islami has categorically asked the Muttahida Qaumi Movement to clear its position regarding Namoos-e-Risalat law instead of asking religious parties to stop protesting against the issue.

The reaction of JI came in the wake of statement of Chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Altaf Hussain in which he had demanded religious parties to discontinue their campaign against blasphemy law as the government, especially the Prime Minister of Pakistan has clearly said that blasphemy law would not be revoked

The JI asked Altaf Hussain to pressurise the coalition government to announce on the floor of the House that the blasphemy law would not be repealed.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=25303&Cat=4&dt=1/13/2011

JI wants people to learn a lesson from Taseer’s murder

	Sunday, January 09, 2011, Safar 04, 1432 A.H.
Karachi
JI wants people to learn a lesson from Taseer’s murder

Sunday, January 09, 2011

By our correspondent
Karachi

The General Secretary, Jamat-e-Islami, Liaquat Baloch, while rejecting the proposed changes in the blasphemy law said that the January 9 public meeting would show the extent of love for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as people have united on one platform to vent their anger against the proposed changes.

He was addressing a joint press conference at the Idara-e-Noor-e-Haq on Saturday to announce details of the public meeting scheduled for January 9.

He held Governor Taseer responsible for his own murder due to his “negative attitude towards the law” and supporting a Christian woman who was convicted by the court and awarded the death sentence. He further said that people should learn a lesson from the murder of the governor of Punjab.

He said that the final moment had come for the defence of Namoos-e-Risalat and all were ready to sacrifice their lives if any change in the law was made by the government. It is the utmost decision of the Muslims of Pakistan that they would sacrifice their lives to defend the law.

He further said that the protests would continue till such time as the government withdrew the private bill presented by PPP MNA Sherry Rehman, abolished committees to review the law, and called for a clear-cut policy pertaining to the blasphemy law on the floor of the house.

‘Today leaders of Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-Risalat are united on the one-point agenda and demand of the government to review its decision and avoid toeing the policies of US.”

Abdul Ghafoor Haideri of the JUI-F said that the governor, Punjab, had taken up the issue as if it only aimed at opposing the minority community and he also consoled Aasia Bibi telling her that the matter would be taken to the president to pardon her punishment, which proved to be his last effort and he was sent to eternal peace.

He said that in a meeting on November 24 it was demanded Aasia Bibi’s issue should be resolved by the judiciary and warned the president of Pakistan not to interfere in it. But unfortunately the government used delaying tactics.

He said that government still had time to rethink the demands of Tehereek-e-Namoos-e-Risalat to dissolve the committee, withdraw the private bill, and announce its clear-cut policy on the law, otherwise leaders of the TNR would announce its future strategy.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=24666&Cat=4&dt=1/9/2011

Pakistan to review blasphemy laws, official says

Pakistan to review blasphemy laws, official says

By Nasir Habib, CNN
December 24, 2010 — Updated 1031 GMT (1831 HKT)

Asia Bibi, a Christian, was sentenced to death for blasphemy of Islam — judicial proceedings could take years.

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) – Pakistan will review blasphemy laws to prevent them from targeting innocent people, a government official said.

The government will form a committee of scholars to revisit the law, said Shahbaz Bhatti, the federal minister for minority affairs.

It will submit its suggestions and procedures, which will be implemented to stop the law’s misuse, the minister said Thursday.

“After the formation of the committee we will …. find the way that whether through the legislation or some other procedural way we can stop the blasphemy law,” Bhatti said.

On pardoning of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy of Islam, Bhatti said the president will wait for the judicial proceedings.

Bibi’s lawyer has said that the proceedings might take years because the case is still in high court and may later go to the Supreme court.

Religious parties are planning protests after Friday prayers. The parties have been upset since the governor of Punjab province helped file a mercy petition with President Asif Ali Zardari’s office requesting a pardon for Bibi.

Parties including the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal ur Rehman (JUI-F) party will hold the rallies on Christmas Eve, said Moulana Amjad Khan, party spokesman.

A Pakistani court in November found the 45-year-old woman guilty of defiling the name of the Prophet Mohammed during a 2009 argument with Muslim fellow field workers.

The offense is punishable by death or life imprisonment, according to Pakistan’s penal code.

But an investigation by a Pakistani government ministry found the charges stemmed from “religious and personal enmity” and recommended Bibi’s release. Zardari has said he would pardon Bibi, but a court has ruled that the president can’t act until the sentence is confirmed by a higher court – a process her lawyer says could take two to three years.

About 2 million Christians live in Pakistan. The Islamic nation has a population of about 170 million, according to government statistics as religious parties plan Friday rallies to protest possible changes.

© 2010 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
URL: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/12/24/pakistan...laws/?hpt=T2

Pakistan parties protest possible blasphemy law changes

Pakistan parties protest possible blasphemy law changes

By Nasir Habib, CNN
December 23, 2010 -- Updated 0941 GMT (1741 HKT)

Pakistani women of the fundamentalist Jamaat-i-Islami party march against Asia Bibi on December 9.

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) – Pakistan’s religious parties are planning protests this week against any attempts to change the nation’s blasphemy laws, a party spokesman said Thursday.

Moulana Amjad Khan, spokesman for the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal ur Rehman (JUI-F) party, said the JUI-F and other religious parties are going to hold the rallies on December 24.

JUI-F recently left the collation government led by President Asif Ali Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party.

Religious parties have been upset since the governor of Punjab province, Salman Taseer, helped file a mercy petition with Zardari’s office, requesting a pardon for Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced for death for blasphemy.

In November, a Pakistani court found the 45-year-old Bibi guilty of defiling the name of the Prophet Mohammed during a 2009 argument with Muslim fellow field workers. The offense is punishable by death or life imprisonment, according to Pakistan’s penal code.

But an investigation by a Pakistani government ministry found the charges stemmed from “religious and personal enmity” and recommended Bibi’s release. Zardari has said he would pardon Bibi, but a court has ruled that the president can’t act until the sentence is confirmed by a higher court – a process her lawyer says could take two to three years.

A Pakistani cleric is offering a nearly $6,000 bounty for anyone killing Bibi.

Moulana Yousaf Qureshi made his announcement in early December, condemning any effort by Zardari to pardon or release her.

“I will pay 500,000 rupees for the loyal follower of Muhammad who beheads Asia Bibi,” Qureshi told a crowd of several hundred people. The amount is equivalent to about $5,800, or more than six times the country’s average annual wage.

About 2 million Christians live in Pakistan, making up slightly over 1 percent of the officially Islamic nation’s population of about 170 million, according to government statistics.

© 2010 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

URL: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asia...protest/?iref=obinsite

Religious groups join hands over blasphemy law

	Wednesday, December 22, 2010, Muharram 16, 1432 A.H.
Karachi
Religious groups join hands over blasphemy law

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

By Shamim Bano
Karachi

In an unprecedented move, all religious parties belonging to different sects have joined hands against calls for the repeal of the blasphemy law, supporting the countrywide shutter-down strike call of the Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-Risalat on December 31.

During a joint press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday, leaders of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Paksitan, Jamat Ahle Sunnat and Shia leaders announced their multi-phase campaign against the proposed repeal of the blasphemy law.

On December 24, protests will be staged outside different mosques of the city after Friday prayers. On December 31, a shutter-down strike will be observed while a public rally will be taken out on January 9.

Religious groups have approached different political parties, including those sitting in the corridors of power, to support their drive.

They have appealed to transporters, industrialists and shopkeepers to shut their businesses to make the strike call a success and to “show the entire anti-Islamic world that any change in the law is not tolerable”.

The leaders also demanded immediate sacking of the Punjab governor and withdrawal of the bill presented in parliament by former information minister Sherry Rehman.

Those who spoke during the press conference included Qari Mohammed Usman of the JUI-F, Shabbir Abu Talib of the JUP, Mufti Mohammed Usman Yar Khan of the JUI-S, Nasrullah Shaji of the JI and Qazi Ahmed Noorani.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=21541&Cat=4

TNR moot announces countrywide strike on 31st

Thursday, December 16, 2010

TNR moot announces countrywide strike on 31st

Published December 16, 2010

ISLAMABAD – All Parties Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat (TNR) Conference on Wednesday unanimously announced to launch a nationwide strike on December 31 besides other schedule for launching a movement for what it termed protecting the sanctity of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who is also heading the conference, announced this decision in the presence of three banned outfits’ leaders including Hafiz Saeed Ahmed of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Maulana Hafiz Ludhyanavi of Sapah-e-Sabaha and Allama Sajid Naqvi of Tehreek-e-Jafria Pakistan, who participated the APC.

Almi Majlis Tahafuz-e-Khatam-e-Nabuwat organised the conference, which was attended by many religious leaders different schools of thoughts from all provinces and FATA along with politicians and people from different walks of life.

The participant at one time took the gathering as revival of Mutthahida Mjlis-e-Amal (MMA) when Qazi Hussain Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) said that he endorsed the recommendations of the conference from the platform of MMA. But at the end of the conference, JI Amir Syed Munawar Hassan, while ruling out any such possibility, said that the APC had announced its further agenda and if there is any development, it would also be announced.

Fazlur Rehman while announcing the nationwide movement said that all religious parties would hold a nationwide wheel-jam strike on December 31 while protests would be held at mosque levels all over the country on December 24. “A grand procession as well as protest will also be held in this regard on January 9 and a subsequent strategy would be announced after consultation with the Central Committee”, he added.

While talking on behalf of the participating parties, he reiterated his resolve that they are ready to render every sacrifice to protect the sanctity of the Prophets and would fight this war at every forum.

Maulana Fazl said that they would resist every effort if the new Bill was brought on the floor of the Parliament for bringing changes in the blasphemy laws. He said that the government should clear its position on the issue adding that international pressure was tantamount to meddling into the internal affairs of the country.

URL: www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-...-countrywide-strike-on-31st

Changes in blasphemy law

	Thursday, December 16, 2010, Muharram 09, 1432 A.H.
Changes in blasphemy law

Thursday, December 16, 2010
By our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: An All Parties Conference (APC), held under the aegis of the Aalmi Majlis-e-Tahaffuz Khatam-e-Nabuwwat, held here on Wednesday gave a call for a countrywide shutterdown on December 31 against efforts to change the blasphemy law.

“The APC has categorically decided that any effort to repeal or weaken the blasphemy law will not be tolerated and Namoos-e-Risalat will be protected at all costs,” JUI-F Amir Maulana Fazlur Rehman said while addressing a press conference after chairing the APC.

Besides others, the APC was attended by ex-Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Amir Qazi Hussain Ahmad, PML-Q chief Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Allama Sajid Naqvi and Abul Khair Zubair.Qazi Hussain Ahmad and Chaudhry Shujaat strongly condemned the moves to try to make the blasphemy laws controversial. “All such attempts will be foiled with full force,” they said.

The speakers warned the government and its parliamentarians to refrain from making efforts to review or repeal the blasphemy law or encouraging those involved in blasphemous acts. “The government cannot dare to table any bill to amend the blasphemy law,” they said.

Asked as to how they would oppose any amendment in the blasphemy law in parliament, Fazlur Rehman emphatically said that nobody could dare speak on this issue on the floors of the two houses. He asked the government to clarify its position on the blasphemy law or get ready for humiliation.

Announcing the protest programme, he said countrywide demonstrations would be organised after Friday prayers on December 24 and shutterdown would be observed on December 31. A big public meeting would be addressed by central leadership of the APC on January 09.

The All Parties Conference also constituted a committee, headed by Sahibzada Abul Khair Zubair of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan, to organise the movement all over the country. However, Fazlur Rehman said the future plan of action would be chalked out after consulting heads of all the religious parties. The committee would activate and organise moves from local to central levels.

Fazlur Rehman said in a country of 170 million people, every citizen enjoys freedom but the Western civilization had no place here. He called upon the traders’ community and shopkeepers to respond to the strike call with Islamic and national spirit. He declined to comment on the revival of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).

INP adds: Maulana Fazlur Rehman said a big public meeting and protest demonstration would be held in Karachi on January 9, which will be attended by all the central leaders of the religious parties.

He said Dr Abul Khair Mohammad Zubair had been made chairman of Tehrik-e-Namoos-e-Risalat. The Tehrik will form sub-committees to organise the Tehrik at grassroot level. Fazl said they wanted to send a message to the world that the entire nation was united over the protection of “Namoos-e-Risalat”.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=2696&Cat=13