Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneeb. — File Photo.
Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneeb. — File Photo.

LAHORE: Religious scholars belonging to the Sunni school of thought have proposed that accused in blasphemy cases should be tried by the Federal Shariat Court (FSC) and the changes introduced by former president Gen (retd) Musharraf’s regime in the registration of such cases be done away with.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman condemned the incident in Lahore in which over 150 houses belonging to Christians were burnt down and said the changes made in the FIR had made registration of blasphemy cases difficult, leading to unrest among Muslims.

Allama Ragheb Naeemi and other religious leaders and scholars were present on the occasion.

Mufti Muneeb said the accused in blasphemy cases should be tried directly by the Federal Shariat Court and the cases should be adjudicated within three months.

He opposed imposition of penalty for the accuser(s) in such cases, arguing that no punishment existed for falsehood in other cases.

Mufti Muneeb warned that no amendment in the blasphemy law would be tolerated by the Muslims and urged the electronic media personnel to refrain from behaving like judges in their talk shows.

Mufti Muneeb said that defamation of sacred religious personalities should be declared a crime under international law.

Mufti Muneeb said a proposal in this regard had been forwarded to some Western diplomats during a dialogue at the Governor House in Karachi.

He suggested that people belonging to religious minorities should be called “non-Muslim Pakistanis” as the term “minority” gave a negative impression. He condemned the bombing at Karachi’s Abbas Town and criticised the television channels for terming it an attack on Shias even though many Sunnis also died in it.

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan turbulence
Updated 19 Mar, 2024

Afghan turbulence

RELATIONS between the newly formed government and Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban rulers have begun on an...
In disarray
19 Mar, 2024

In disarray

IT is clear that there is some bad blood within the PTI’s ranks. Ever since the PTI lost a key battle over ...
Festering wound
19 Mar, 2024

Festering wound

PROTESTS unfolded once more in Gwadar, this time against the alleged enforced disappearances of two young men, who...
Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...