Lahore: Countrywide protest was held on Friday on the appeal of the Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat, against the death sentence announced to former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer’s killer, Mumtaz Qadri.
Ulema and clerics in their Friday addresses at mosques condemned the ATC verdict for being in conflict with the constitution as also the Holy Quran and the Sunnah and demanded suspension of the sentence and immediate release of Mumtaz Qadri. They also demanded dismissal of the trial judge and vowed to continue their movement till Mumtaz Qadri’s release.
Demonstrations were held outside mosques and at different press clubs and were addressed by representatives of different religious and political personalities.
In the Punjab capital, the Jamaat-e-Islami held a demonstration at Multan Road near Mansoora. JI Secretary General Liaqat Baloch, while addressing the procession, said that Mumtaz Qadri had opted the path of Ghazi Ilmuddin and he did not deserve conviction.
He counseled the people in power to correct themselves. He also advised the tiny secular lobby in the country not to play with the religious sentiments of the masses.
Baloch said the US, the Pope at Vatican and the foreign funded NGOs had been pressurizing President Asif Ali Zardari to amend the Blasphemy law but the Pakistani people had foiled the conspiracy.
JI deputy Secretary General Farid Ahmed Paracha, while speaking on the occasion, said that CIA operative Raymond Davis who was the killer of three Pakistanis had been handed over to the US. Similarly, Ajmal Pahari who had committed one hundred murders, had not been given death sentence. Therefore, he said, the ATC verdict against Mumtaz Qadri was not acceptable.
Jamiat Ittehadul Ulema Pakistan chief and eminent religious scholar Maulana Abdul Malik, while addressing Friday congregation at Mansoora mosque, said that the constitution provided death sentence for blasphemy of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) where as Salman Taseer had publicly promised clemency for Asiya Masih, a convict in blasphemy case.
Malik said that the Noble Prophet had pardoned many people in his life time but nobody involved in blasphemy was forgiven. As such, Salman Taseer deserved death sentence and Mumtaz Qadri got this honour.
Maulana Abdul Malik said that the ATC judge holding the trial had no knowledge of the Qurn and the Sunnah. Accordingly, about forty religious parties at their joint sitting on Thursday, had rejected the court decision.
In Islamabad, a big rally was held at Aab Para Chowk. Addressing the rally, deputy chief, JI, Punjab Mian Muhammad Aslam, JUP’s Hamid Raza Bhatti, Ahle Hadith leader Maulana Abdul Aziz and Islamabad Trader Ittehad s Kashif Chaudhary demanded suspension of Mumtaz Qadri’s sentence and his immediate release. A protest rally was also held outside the Rawalpindi Press Club.
In Karachi, a demonstration was held outside the Masjid e Khizra. JI Karachi chief, Muhammad Husain Mehnati, JUP’s Siddique Rathore, JUI(S)’s Mufti Usman Yar, while addressing the rally, termed Mumtaz Qadri’s conviction as unconstitutional.
In Multan, a protest rally was held at Clock Tower and was addressed by JI’s Aziz Latif,
JUP vice President Mufti Hidayatullah Qasuri, JUI’s Syed Khurshid Abbas Gardezo, Ahle Hadith leader Maulana Abdur Rahim, Tehrik e Insaf’s Major (Retd) Mujib Ahmed and Jamaat Al Dawa’s Hafiz Abdul Ghaffar and traders representatives.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription