Qadri supporters rail against US, Ahmadis

Pakistan Punjab

Qadri supporters rail against US, Ahmadis

By Rana Tanveer
Published: October 10, 2011

Sunni Ittehad announces ‘Remove government’ train march on Nov 21. PHOTO: AFP

LAHORE: Speakers at the Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) National Khatam-i-Nabuwat Conference railed against the death sentence handed to Mumtaz Qadri for the murder of Salmaan Taseer, as well as Ahmedis and America, on Sunday.

SIC Chairman Sahibzada Fazle Karim announced that they would hold a ‘Remove government’ train march from Rawalpindi to Karachi on November 21 to press for Qadri’s release. “We will not let them hang Mumtaz Qadri,” he said to loud cheers. He said that Islam allowed the killing of a blasphemer.

Karim said Ahmedis were conspiring with America against Islam. He said that the SIC would fight for Islamic rule in Pakistan. They would also stop “the US dream of Indian supremacy in the subcontinent” from becoming a reality. He said the Sunni Tehrik was being victimised in Karachi and demanded that the government release its workers and leaders.

Jamat Ahle Sunnat (JAS) Nazim Aala Allama Syed Riaz Hussain Shah also spoke out against Ahmedis, saying they were “agents of anti-Pakistan forces” and involved in anti-state activities.

JAS Ameer Syed Mazhar Saeed Kazmi said appointing Ahmedis to key posts was a violation of the Constitution. He demanded that all Ahmedis be expelled from key posts. He said Ahmedis were created by the British.

At the end of the conference, the participants passed a resolution demanding the government end unemployment and power outages, and the president pardon Mumtaz Qadri.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2011.

Copyrighted © 2011 The Express Tribune News Network
URL: http://tribune.com.pk/story/270591/qadri-...us-ahmedis/

TNR rally warns govt not to touch blasphemy law

Monday, January 10, 2011

TNR rally warns govt not to touch blasphemy law

*	Hundreds of thousands gather in Karachi to demand govt abolish committee set up to review law, withdraw bill from NA

Staff Report/Agencies

KARACHI: The Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-Risalat (TNR) and the All-Religious Parties Alliance held a massive rally on Sunday, 8demanding the government not touch the country’s blasphemy law, abolish the committee set up to review the law and withdraw the proposed blasphemy bill from the National Assembly.

Hundreds of thousands of people participated in the march from the Numaish Chowrangi to Tibat Centre. They raised placards and banners voicing their demands.

The size of the Karachi rally, which was large even by the standards of the city of 16 million, showed how bitter the argument is over the decades-old laws.

Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-Risalat convener and the chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP), Dr Abul Khair Muhammad Zubair, said it was a matter of regret that the present government had tabled a bill to amend the blasphemy law.

Dr Abul Khair gave a deadline of January 30 to the government to dissolve the committee that was formed to review blasphemy law. “Otherwise the next Tahafuz-e-Namoos Rislat March will be organised in Lahore on January 30,” he said.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Munawar Hassan said the rulers intended to amend the blasphemy law at the direction of their Western idols. He said that he offers Altaf Hussain and Nawaz Sharif to come forward and take a stand in favour of the blasphemy law, as it was a matter of belief and religion for each Muslim. “They should come forward to make a statement on record in this regard, avoiding all minor or major differences,” he said.

Munawar demanded that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani withdraw the bill, which was tabled “for the nefarious propose of amending the blasphemy law and the PM should give a policy statement on the floor of the assembly in this regard”.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Fazlur Rehman said the nation would not allow any one to amend or remove the blasphemy law. He vowed that the “Western agenda” would not be allowed in Pakistan, which “had come into being in the name of Allah and the holy Prophet (PBUH)”.

He alleged that the government was expressing extremism in its struggle against the blasphemy law. JI Karachi chief Muhammad Hussain Mehnti, JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, JUP member Shabir Abu Talib, PML-Q leader Muhammed Zubair Khan and Owais Pasha of the Tanzeem Islami also spoke on the occasion.

The blasphemy law has been the subject of much attention after a Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, was sentenced to death last year.

Although courts typically overturn blasphemy convictions and no executions have been carried out, rights activists say the laws are used to settle rivalries and persecute religious minorities.

While the Islamists do not win many seats in elections, they have the capacity to bring people out into the streets.

The rally followed a tumultuous week in Pakistani politics in which the Pakistan People’s Party government backtracked on reforms to stave off collapse.……

URL: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default..._pg7_15

VIEW: An open letter to President Zardari

Saturday, January 8, 2010

VIEW: An open letter to President Zardari — II — Shahid Saeed

Wrapped in the coffin of Salmaan Taseer was not just the body of a mortal but ideas, expressions, feelings and socio-political ideals. We buried not just a man, but reason, sanity, tolerance, liberalism, secularism and compassion

The members of Jamaat-e-Ahle Sunnat Pakistan did not bring your party to power nor does the PPP represent the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan. Tahaffuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat Mahaz members do not vote for your party and you did not get elected because of the Sunni Tehrik. The Hindu, Christian and Ahmedi citizens of Pakistan do not look up to these parties for their rights; they look at parties like yours. Nearly all of the three million Pakistanis who follow the Hindu faith live in Sindh. Nearly all of them vote for the Pakistan People’s Party.

Investigation from your very own minister for minorities affairs found Asia Noreen to be innocent. A doctor has been accused of blasphemy for throwing away the card of a pharmaceutical company representative. Justice Arif Hussain Bhatti took bullets in the chest for giving justice to an innocent accused of blasphemy.

Extremism and fanaticism manifest themselves in various forms — in the form of hate-mongering against other faiths and in the form of lack of tolerance for any opinion deemed in violation of what is considered divinely ordained law. The cancer of extremism has permeated each and every inch of this society, from those who blow themselves up in the middle of crowded markets to those who sympathise with them or even try to defend them. Zia’s legacy cannot be eroded by an 18th Amendment or removal of his name from the president’s list. His legacy remains alive in the form of the blasphemy laws, the Hudood Laws and all other discriminatory laws. His legacy remains alive in the form of every bomber that blows himself up in the streets and bazaars of this unfortunate country. His legacy remains alive in the form of the assassination of your own wife.

The very basic problem with laws promulgated in the name of religion remains that the doors of any subsequent change are closed forever and the very issue of debate on their legality, their fairness and their effects becomes controversial.

Lately, you have claimed that politics is about making unpopular decisions for the greater good. Here is an unpopular decision that is definitely worth orchestrated agitation. Here is an unpopular decision you can make that will give the six million citizens of minority faiths a nice sleep for the first time in their lives. Here is an unpopular decision that will prove to be the first one in making Pakistan a modern progressive state that does not condone murder in the name of religion.

His death carries a message for all liberals in Pakistan, a mark on their heads for the Qadris to ascend to their imagined heavens. It possibly brings vocal liberalism to an end on the political stage. If the PPP is to continue abandoning principled, courageous, humane and compassionate politicians, then there will be no more Salmaan Taseers or Sherry Rehmans to strengthen the party.

Wrapped in the coffin of Salmaan Taseer was not just the body of a mortal but ideas, expressions, feelings and socio-political ideals. We buried not just a man, but reason, sanity, tolerance, liberalism, secularism and compassion. His presence will forever be missed. It will be missed even more if the PPP fails to honour his memory and continues to act like a crowd of sheep, unwilling to flex its muscles and resist the agitation instigated by bigots.

Taseer’s death should not dissuade you from pursuing an amendment in the notoriously abused law. In his death, Salmaan Taseer has become the symbolic champion of minority rights, the face of liberal and progressive politics in Pakistan. A state that ignores death-chanting slogans from mullahs and lets people garland a murderer has surrendered itself to the extremists. If the PPP wishes to remain silent on the blasphemy laws even now, it might as well have assassinated Taseer itself and became the voice of the street mullahs and the Taliban. Otherwise, it will honour the memory of Shaheed Salmaan Taseer and support the bill put forward by Sherry Rehman. The choice is yours to make.

(Concluded)

The writer is interested in history and public policy. He can be reached at shahid@live.com.pk

URL: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\01\08\story_8-1-2011_pg3_6

Religious parties unite to protect Qadri

Thursday, January 6, 2010

Religious parties unite to protect Qadri

By Zeeshan

ISLAMABAD: Religious parties on Wednesday seemed united in protecting Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer’s assassin Malik Mumtaz Qadri.

Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), a Bralevi sect party, called a meeting for tomorrow (Friday), likely to be held in Rawalpindi to discuss the fallout of the assassination of the Punjab governor.

Senior SIC member Haji Hanif Tayeb told Daily Times by phone that Sahibzada Fazal Karim would chair the meeting and then it would be decided whether to support Qadri or otherwise. The Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat Mahaz, a forum of Bralevi school of thought, also seemed determined to protect Qadri. Maulana Raghib Naeemi told Daily Times that anarchy would increase in society if some one tried to amend the blasphemy law. “It is a principled decision of the Mahaz to support Qadri,” Naeemi categorically stated. Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer, Syed Munawar Hassan, justified Qadri’s act, saying Salmaan Taseer himself had to be blamed for his fate.

In a press statement, he said Taseer’s views on the blasphemy law provoked Qadri into killing him. Badshahi Masjid Khateeb Maulana Abul Khabir Azad asked the government not to amend the blasphemy law, as it would hurt the sentiments of 180 million people of Pakistan.

Replying to a question, he denied that he refused to lead Taseer’s funeral prayers saying he was busy and could not spare time.

URL: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011/01/06/story_6-1-2011_pg7_14

Blasphemy laws: Religious right flexes its muscles

Pakistan

Blasphemy laws: Religious right flexes its muscles

January 01, 2011

Activists of Fundemental Rights Commission chant slogans against amendment in blasphemy laws during a protest demonstration at Hyder Chowk in Hyderabad on Friday December 31, 2010. PHOTO: PPI

KARACHI: A crippling strike shut down businesses and schools and derailed transport services across the country on Friday as religious parties offered their stoutest defence yet of the blasphemy laws. Despite the government’s firm assurances that the law would remain unchanged, leaders of the religious parties were determined to show just how much they opposed such a change.

On Thursday, the State Minister for Information Samsam Bokhari ruled out the possibility of any change in the law. “We will start a civil disobedience movement if the government makes any amendment to the law,” said Sunni Ittehad Council chairman Sahibzada Fazal Karim.

Analysts say the strike has more to do with politics than religion. “The government right now is in crisis and these religious parties are pressurising the government by playing with public sentiments,” political analyst Hasan Askari Rizvi told Reuters. Critics say the law is used to persecute religious minorities, fan religious extremism and settle personal scores.

In Karachi shopping centres, colleges and universities were closed and examinations scheduled for Friday were postponed.

President of the local transport association in Karachi, Irshad Bokhari, said public transport would remain off the road in response to the strike call. Chairman of Karachi Traders Unity, Atiq Mir said: “All markets and business centres are closed because the protection of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) honour is supreme to us.” A joint press conference was also held by more than 30 religious parties belonging to different sects at Idara-e-Noor-e-Haq here.

Speaking at the occasion, Tahfuz-e Namoos-e-Risalat convenor Abdul Khair Muhammad Zubair said Pakistan came into being in the name of Islam and no one would be allowed to amend the law. Zubair said the government, its ministers and parliamentarians should avoid talking on the issue. He called for hanging those who commit blasphemy and demanded action to be taken against the Punjab governor, who had called the blasphemy law a smear on the constitution.

Zubair said that a phased plan had been devised as part of their struggle. The first phase was launched on December 24. “The second event is the strike, but the third event, which is the most important, will be a large public gathering in Karachi on January 9 at MA Jinnah Road. “Thousands of people will gather to express their love for Islam and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh),” he said.

A strike was also observed in other parts of the province including Sukkur, Rohri, Pano Aqil, Ghotki, Mirpur Mathelo, Daharki and Jacobabad among others.

In Islamabad, hundreds of supporters of Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Namoos-i-Risalat (TTNS) rallied amid a complete shutter down in the twin cities to demonstrate their ‘pledge’ against attempts to amend blasphemy laws. Leading a rally held in Rawalpindi, General Secretary of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazl Maulana Ghafoor Haideri threatened of more protests and even a ‘long march and civil disobedience if the government attempted any amendments in the blasphemy laws’.

Protesters demanded an end to foreign intervention in the country’s internal affairs at rallies in Lahore. Protests were taken out from offices of trade associations after Friday prayers. Two of the major rallies were held at The Mall and Ichhra Chowk on Ferozepur Road. The rally at The Mall totalled close to 500 people, while the one on Ferozepur Road brought out about 200 people.

A complete shutter down was observed in many areas of Balochistan. The Jamiat-Ulema Islam (Ideology) organised a rally and held a demonstration in Mezan Chowk in Quetta, criticising the government’s intention to amend the blasphemy law.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AGENCIES

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2011.

URL: http://tribune.com.pk/story/97652/blasphemy-laws-religious-right-flexes-its-muscles/

Nation protests any change in blasphemy law

	Saturday, January 1, 2011, Muharram 25, 1432 A.H.
Nation protests any change in blasphemy law

Saturday, January 1, 2011

ISLAMABAD: A complete shutter-down strike was observed across the country on Friday as religious parties held rallies and protests against any alleged move by the government to amend the blasphemy law.

All major business centres, markets and bazaars remained closed throughout the day, while there was thin traffic on roads in all the major cities of the country. The Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat gave a strike call on Thursday. It was supported by the traders community and transporters. Strict security measures were adopted in all the major cities to avoid any unpleasant event.

Like other parts of the country, rallies were also held in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. A large number of people attended the rallies, holding placards and shouting slogans against Interior Minister Rehman Malik and former information minister Sherry Rehman for allegedly supporting the amendment to the blasphemy law.

Addressing the protest rallies, the speakers said: “We will not tolerate anyone who will make any amendment to the blasphemy law. The only punishment for blasphemy is capital punishment and nobody has the right to amend this law.” Addressing a rally in Islamabad, Shabab-e-Milli Pakistan leader Shahid Gilani said if Aasia Masih, a blasphemy convict, was guilty, she must be punished according to the law.

“The Punjab governor, Sherry Rehman and Rehman Malik should be very careful while giving remarks about the blasphemy law,” another speaker said. Majority of business centres in the twin cities remained closed. Leaders of the business community said protecting the sanctity of Holy Prophet (PBUH) was not the duty of religious parties only, but of all the Muslims belonging to all walks of life.

All major markets and business centres were closed in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar, besides other cities. Public transport was not running in Karachi. Violence flared up in the commercial hub of Pakistan as police and protesters clashed during a protest strike.

Police said protesters near the home of President Asif Ali Zardari in Karachi pelted stones as they shouted slogans including ‘we we’ll sacrifice our lives — we’ll save the sanctity of the Prophet (PBUH)’. Teargas shells were fired to disperse them.

“We will start a civil disobedience movement if the government makes any amendment to the law,” the chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council, Sahibzada Fazal Karim, told AFP. Shopping centres, colleges and universities were closed, and examinations scheduled for Friday in Karachi were postponed.

The president of Karachi’s local transport association, Irshad Bokhari, told AFP that public transport remained off the road as part of the strike. Protest rallies were held and a shutter-down strike observed in Quetta, Zhob, Loralai, Sibi, Mastung, Kalat, Dera Murad Jamali, Nushki and Chaghai districts of Balochistan.

Vowing to foil any plan to amend the blasphemy law, thousands of people in Gilgit threatened the government of dire consequences, if the PPP-led government moved to amend the blasphemy law.

“We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the sanctity of the last Prophet (PBUH). We will not allow anybody to amend the blasphemy law,” said Maulana Nisar Ahmed, one of the top religious leaders in Gilgit-Baltistan, while addressing a mammoth gathering. Luqman Hakim, the JUI-F chief of Gilgit-Baltistan chapter, Maulana Khalil Qasmi, Khateeb Moti Masjid, and others also spoke on the occasion.

More than 10,000 people turned up in the rally that culminated peacefully after passing a declaration against any alleged move of the government to amend the blasphemy law. The declaration also criticised Rehman Malik and Sherry Rehman. Most of markets in Gilgit remained closed all the day as the Islami Council had also extended its support for the strike.

A complete shutter-down strike was observed in Bahawalpur on the call of the Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat. Rallies and shutter-down strike was also observed in Ahmadpur East, Hasilpur, Yazman, Smasatta, Bahawalnagar, Chistian, Haroon Abad and Lodhran.

URL: http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=3047&Cat=13

City shuts in protest at bid to change blasphemy law

	Saturday, January 1, 2011, Muharram 25, 1432 A.H.
Karachi
City shuts in protest at bid to change blasphemy law

Saturday, January 1, 2011

By Shamim Bano
Karachi

The busy life of the metropolis took a pause on Friday when thousands of supporters and activists of various religious parties and groups marched and shouted a warning to the government – don’t change the blasphemy law or face more protests, including a civil disobedience movement.

The shutter-down strike – the call for which was given by the Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-Risalat (TNR) in protest against proposed amendments to the country’s contentious blasphemy law – also seemed a wheel-jam strike as public transport stayed off the road.

All trader organisations backed the strike and kept their businesses shut. All shopping centres of the city also closed. The Sunni Ittehad Council staged a massive rally led by Sahibzada Fazal Karim. The rally started from Shamzai Chowk and ended at the Tibet Centre on MA Jinnah Road amid tight security. Rangers and other law enforcers were deployed on the rooftops of several buildings along the route of the rally as part of the security measures. Roads and lanes leading towards the site of the rally were closed to all vehicular traffic.

The rally adopted several resolutions, one of which demanded of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to give a policy statement in the parliament or address the nation to satisfy the citizens of the country over the issue.

The resolutions demanded removal of Salman Taseer as the governor of Punjab for trying to get the blasphemy law amended. They also demanded that the private bill presented to a committee of the National Assembly by PPP MNA Sherry Rehman should be withdrawn or the parliamentary committee should reject it.

The participants of the rally urged that Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, who is also the head of a committee formed to review the proposed changes in the law, should either voluntarily resign or be replaced.

The rally was attended by Sarwat Ejaz Qadri of the Sunni Tehreek, Haji Hanif Tayyub, Shahid Ghauri and others. Later, the Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-Risalat (TNR) threatened a million-man march on Islamabad if the government considered proposed amendments to the blasphemy law.

The TNR also gave the government a nine-day ultimatum to clear its stance, otherwise people would lay a siege to the Parliament House. The ultimatum was given by TNR chief Sahibzada Abul Khair at a joint press conference addressed by about 35 religious and political leaders at the Idara-i-Noor-i-Haq.

The leaders said the strike conveyed a message to the government and the entire western world that any change in the blasphemy law would be resisted and people would take to the streets in protest.

They demanded immediate dissolution of the committee headed by Shahbaz Bhatti . The demand came a day after a federal minister made it clear that the government was not considering changing the law.

The religious and political leaders also called for immediate removal of Sherry Rehman as MNA. They said the government should denounce the bill presented by the MNA. They also demanded immediate sacking of Governor Punjab Salman Taseer, and vowed that their struggle would continue till his removal from office.

Shaibzada Zubair said a public meeting was scheduled to be held in the city on January 9 and “we have given nine days to the government to remove all ambiguities in this regard or be ready to face the consequences”.

The chief of Alami Khatam-i-Nabuwat, Maulana Tauseef, said anyone using derogatory remarks against the president of Pakistan is charged with treason under the Constitution, so any person who uses sacrilegious remarks against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) should also be punished and given the death sentence under the Islamic law.

Maulana Afzal Sardar of Jamiat-i-Ahle Hadith said that though there were different sects in the country, they were united at one platform on the issue of Namoos-i-Risalat as they had taken oath to safeguard the sanctity of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Professor Ghafoor Ahmed of the Jamaat-i-Islami said that Muslims could be impractical but would never tolerate any derogatory remarks against the Holy Prophet (PBUH) or any change in the blasphemy law.

AFP adds: Violence flared in an area of the city on Friday as police and protesters clashed during a mass protest strike that closed businesses over a bid to change the blasphemy law. Police said protesters near the Bilawal House pelted stones as they shouted slogans, including “we’ll sacrifice our lives — we’ll save the sanctity of the Prophet” (PBUH). Teargas shells were fired to disperse them, AFP reporters said.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=23255&Cat=4

PM given four days to reject moves against blasphemy laws

	Saturday, December 28, 2010, Muharram 21, 1432 A.H.
National
PM given four days to reject moves against blasphemy laws

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

By our correspondent

LAHORE : The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), an alliance of religious parties, has warned the rulers of launching a countrywide anti-government movement, including a siege of parliament and an indefinite sit-in there if the prime minister did not make a clear announcement within four days to reject all the moves and proposals aimed at amending the blasphemy law.

“If the prime minister does not make a clear announcement, shunning the West-sponsored moves to amend the blasphemy law within four days, we will launch 1977-like movement against the PPP government and stage a sit-in outside parliament for an indefinite period,” said SIC Chairman Sahibzada Fazal Karim while chairing an all Pakistan Tahaffuz Namoos Risalat convention at the Aiwan-e-Iqbal here on Monday.

A large number of Ulema, Mashaikh and scholars from all over the country attended the convention of the SIC, a platform of religious parties affiliated with the Barelvi school of thought, asking the government to back out of the West-sponsored conspiracy against the blasphemy law.

Fazal Karim also announced that a Tahaffuz Namoos Risalat rally would be taken out in Karachi on December 31, 2010. He dispelled the criticism of blasphemy law as a legislation directed against minorities.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=22623&Cat=2

SIC warns against any change in blasphemy law

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

SIC warns against any change in blasphemy law

Published December 01, 2010

LAHORE — While rejecting the parliamentary committee constituted by the Prime Minister for proposing amendments in blasphemy laws, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) has warned the government of tough resistance if it undertakes any effort to amend the Islamic laws.

Sahibzada Fazal Karim, the SIC chief, expressed these views while addressing a Press conference at Lahore Press Club along with other leaders of the council on Tuesday.

He said no amendment could be made in the blasphemy laws according to the Article 227 of 1973 Constitution.

He informed that the SIC had formed a delegation to hold meetings with the members of Senate and national and provincial assemblies to convince them to deter government’s move to amend the blasphemy laws.

Sahibzada said the SIC delegation would also write letters to all members of the parliament in this regard.

He announced the SIC would observe a condemnation day on Friday across the country in which ulema and prayer leaders would slam the government’s repressive policies against the participants of the ‘Save Pakistan Long March’ and also adopt resolutions against government for suppressing the lovers of Holy Prophet.

Condemning the Indian atrocities in Held Kashmir, he said the leaders of SIC demanded that India not be given permanent membership of Security Council, as the New Delhi was responsible for the killing of more than 80,000 Kashmiris.

Castigating the policies of PPP-led coalition government, he claimed that the government had failed to deliver.

He further said the rulers were pursuing their personal interests only, leaving the country at the mercy of US drone attacks and terrorism.

Sahibzada said the SIC appreciated the Lahore High Court decision barring the government from pardoning the blasphemy convict, Aasia Masih, or extraditing her to the US.

He demanded that written-off loans be recovered, while the elite classes should bring their money to the country.

The SIC chief called upon the federal and provincial governments to take steps to maintain peace and harmony during the month of Muharram.

URL: www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-e...-any-change-in-blasphemy-law

SIC rejects move to amend blashphemy law

Wednesday, December 01, 2010 Zilhajj 24, 1431 A.H.

SIC rejects move to amend blashphemy law

Wednesday, December 01, 2010
By Our Correspondent
Lahore

SUNNI Ittehad Council (SIC) has rejected the parliamentary committee constituted by Prime Minister Gilani for proposing amendments to blasphemy laws and warned of tough resistance to any effort for amending Islamic legislation.

SIC has formed a high level delegation to hold meetings with Senatrs and MNAs and MPAs to convince them to reject the government move to amend the Blasphemy Laws, said Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahabzada Fazal Karim and heads of other Sunni Ittehad Council component parties while addressing a press conference at the Lahore Press Club on Tuesday.

Fazal Karim said Sunni Ittehad Council had rejected the parliamentary committee for proposing amendments to Blasphemy Laws since no amendment could be made in that law under Article 227 of the Constitution providing protection to all Islamic laws in the country.

He said Sunni Ittehad Council delegation would also write letters to all members of the parliament to plead its case and to advise them to refrain from becoming part of any attempt to amend the Blasphemy Laws.

Fazal Karim praised the members and workers of SIC, a platform of religious arties of Barelvi school of thought, for their courage and valor in resisting the police highhandedness, arrests, baton charge and teargassing to join in the SIC’s Save Pakistan Long March and announced that Sunni Ittehad Council had decided to observe a condemnation day on Friday, December 3, all over the country in which Ulema and prayer leaders would condemn the government’s repressive policies and adopt resolutions lashing out at the government to suppress the ‘Lovers of Holy Prophet (SAW)’ and the school of thought which backed Quaid-e-Azam in Pakistan Movement.

Fazal Karim, who is head of his own faction of JUP and an MNA on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz ticket condemned the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government of Punjab for blocking the SIC long march. He condemned general policies of the PPP-led coalition government in Islamabad for failing to deliver its electoral promises, adding that rulers were pursuing only personal interests while leaving the country at the mercy of drone attacks and terrorism which brought the country on the verge of destruction.

He said Sunni Ittehad Council praised LHC decision to bind the government against pardoning blasphemy convict Aasia Masih or to extradite her to US.

He also condemned rulers’ corruption which, accoding to him gulped down over 5 billion rupees from national kitty every year and left the country under a staggering $ 55 billion foreign debt and stressed that if rulers’ corruption could be controlled then the entire foreign debt could be paid off in one year.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/01-12-2010/lahore/18162.htm

Several injured, arrested at Sunni Ittehad Council rally

Pakistan

Several injured, arrested at Sunni Ittehad Council rally

Agencies
November 27, 2010

The workers of Sunni Tehreek (ST) arriving on board Khyber Mail were arrested at Rawalpindi Railways station. — File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Over a hundred local leaders and activists of Sunni Ittehad Council were arrested on Saturday. Police stopped the rally near ‘Soha Rawalpindi, where the activists had held a sit-in protest and were determined to move forward.

Police in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi jump-started into action since Saturday morning in a bid to stem Council’s Long March from Islamabad to Lahore. Hazrart Bari Imam Shrine was sealed.

The workers of Sunni Tehreek (ST) arriving on board Khyber Mail were arrested at Rawalpindi Railways station.

According to Cantt Police Station, at least 50 people were taken into custody. Meanwhile, Sunni Council spokesman claimed over 200 of their workers were nabbed.

In view of security apprehensions, the government was in top gear since yesterday to stanch Islamabad-Lahore Long March announced by Sunni Ittehad as the march to ‘Save Pakistan’.

Islamabad’s exits and entry points especially those roads leading to Bari Imam Darbar were heavily guarded with baton-wielding police contingents armed with tear-gas shells and armored personnel carrier (APC).

Police were given duties outside madaris in support of Sunni Tehreek. Also, some local leaders were browbeaten into staying back.

Police took 19 Tehreek workers including a local leader during an operation in Jhelum.

According to Rawalpindi officials, over 100 people have been taken into custody. – Agencies

Chief of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Sahibzada Fazal Karim on Saturday said the SIC will not allow the repeal of the blasphemy laws. He said terrorism had distorted Pakistan’s image across the globe, adding that those persuading people for suicide bombings were not loyal to Pakistan.

Hundreds of SIC activists started a nearly 200-mile long march on Saturday in a protest against Taliban attacks on the country’s religious sites.

Authorities warned that militants could attack the procession which was being led by Sahibzada Fazal Karim.

Police escorted the convoy out of Islamabad, where the journey had started.

The participants, travelling on foot and in cars, plan to rally in Lahore, where 47 people died in a suicide bombing at a Sufi shrine in July.

While addressing the participants of the long march at Islamabad’s Bari Imam shrine, Karim said the government had not accepted the SIC’s demand for legislation to curb terrorism and called for an All Parties Conference on the issue.

He further demanded the release of the arrested SIC activists.

The local administration had imposed Section 144 in Rawalpindi and several activists from various religious seminaries had been arrested.

Following intelligence reports of possible terror attacks, the Punjab government had banned the long march to avert any untoward incident.

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URL: www.dawn.com/2010/11/27/we-will-not-allow-repeal-of-blasphemy-laws-sic.html