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ISLAMABAD: Mainstream religious parties belonging to all schools of thought on Saturday rejected the women protection bill recently passed by the Punjab assembly and termed the hanging of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer’s assassin a judicial murder.
The announcement was made at the official residence of Maulana Fazlur Rehman in the Ministers Colony here. The meeting was attended by Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq, Awais Noorani, son of late Shah Ahmed Noorani and the leader of Jamiat Ulema Pakistan (JUP-N), Dr Sahibzada Abul Khair Mohammad Zubair (JUP-N), Allama Arif Wahidi of Islami Tehreek of Allama Sajid Naqvi and Allama Abdul Aziz Hanif of Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadis led by Senator Prof Sajid Mir.
Announcing the decisions of the meeting, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the participants rejected the ‘judicial murder’ of Mumtaz Qadri and called him a martyr.
Clerics from various schools of thought also describe Mumtaz Qadri’s hanging as ‘judicial murder’
“The mainstream religious parties will meet in Mansoora, Lahore, on March 15 to discuss the next course of action against the conspiracies being hatched by the government,” the JUI-F chief said. He added that there were chances of a nationwide agitation against the ill-intended moves of the government – similar to the one organised by religious groups in 1977.
“We understand that the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri was based on a bad intent and it could be part of a conspiracy to abolish the blasphemy laws in Pakistan. But we will never tolerate this,” he said, adding: “All such attempts by previous governments had failed and this will also happen now.”
The JUI chief said the meeting also noted with concerns that the women protection bill had been promulgated by Punjab only to destroy and distort the family system in the country.
“We all have agreed that domestic violence and ill-treatment of women should end and we will welcome laws in this regard. But the clauses in this bill will eventually lead to the break-up of society,” he added. “This is not right in an Islamic country and many clauses in the Bill are contrary to Quran and Sunnah.”
He said the representatives of all the religious groups had decided to resist these moves as they termed it “conspiracies to make Pakistan a secular country.” Allama Arif Wahidi said they considered Qadri’s execution and passing of the women protection bill as devious moves by the ruling party as both the actions were planned and carried out secretly.
The religious leaders also criticised Pemra and the government over the blackout of all the news related to Mumtaz Qadri by the media.
When asked why he was speaking against the government when his party, the JUI-F, was a coalition partner, Maulana Fazal said he believed in a true democracy.
“This is the true spirit of democracy. We are with the government but we have our principles and will not be part of any illegal or un-Islamic act,” he said.
About the allegations of former Karachi nazim Mustafa Kamal against the MQM chief, Maulana Fazal said, “As far as anybody’s connections with RAW etc., are concerned, it is not our responsibility to check or correct it. Such allegations are not new regarding MQM but the agencies should be asked why they have failed to cap the alleged RAW links.”
Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2016
Comments (24) Closed
So they are for violence against women..?!
Their thinking is not rational and should therefore not be taken under consideration. Besides there should be no religious political parties in the the 21st century. One would have hoped that thousands of years later people would have a fairly good grasp of the faith they follow.
These clerics are out of tune with the world. Unfortunately, many in our country follow them blindly.
Uneducated clerics do not want to abolish women slavery in 21st century!
...means they don't fully understand the 'religion.' Islam protects women right and asked us to respect women but alas...these so-called religious scholars and their intellect...
Religious leaders moving in wrong direction is unfortunate ? In the name of religion they wanted to keep women isolated and deprived their rights.
Believe they clearly said they are against "violence against women" but to ensure that u don't need to cross the boundries set by the religion.
@SHAH ... .... They are not uneducated. They know they are educated. It is their profession to debunk Western knowledge for the good of all.
@PHILOSOPHER (FROM JAPAN) .... The fault of undereducated clerics is they have never had a course in Logic. They don't realize the mistakes they are making. In the field of logic it is called "mistaken casual relation". When their minds link one thing with another some of their comparisons are flawed. Instead of realizing their comparison may be invalid they think, "My idea proves the religious teachings are correct." That is how they collect "the right" data.
This is an unfortunate decision by so called religious parties, every time Pakistan took one step forward and these opportunist actors pull back 3 steps.
The bill has bee passed by the parliament. Cleric should accept this bill. Any reservations be submitted in the parliament.
It shows their mindset towards women.
Pakistan still dreams about developing while these grooms have created their own parties based on religion. Sick!!!
we all agree that domestic violence and ill treatment of women should end and we will welcome laws for this purpose. there is nothing wrong in their stance . we cannot import the western laws in our country without any limits because our country is a Muslim country and because we see the consequences of western laws in their societies.
Anyone for or against this bill should first educate themselves first about the rights and obligations of husbands and wives in sacred reliation under Islam.
Without any spiritual guidance, the society will descend into decadence.
It looks religious leaders who can influence sensitive minds are prime hindrance to Pakistan progress. At least Pakistani Knowledgeable and elite persons shall take responsibility to stop this type of nonsense created by religious fanatics. Persons who can't accept/ respect women, shouldn't fit to be a religious leader. Unless common person in Pakistan stop hearing these religious leaders and start thinking their own, the glorious future of Pakistan is a mirage.
The attitude of these political religious parties demonstrates that they favor promotion of violence against women & rebellion against law. Vast majority of Pak people have never voted for them & will never vote for them. Such religious parties & individuals are really frustrated but still are not ready to change their attitude towards the Freedom lover Pak people.
I wonder what they actually want?
100% support the scholars. We should run Pakistan by their rules and advice.
@Cyrus Exactly. They don't speak what Islam says but they make Islam what they say. Their logic is flawed and their causal linking is spurious.
These so called religious leaders are in fact political leaders wearing religion cloak - let them do what they do best - Make Noise.
These forces of status quo will never support any enlightenment unless its done on them.
Always counterproductive and on the wrong side of history.
so this means that the violence committed by husbands and fathers and brothers should be protected in the name of the family. next step they will be saying that honer killing is not murder
what a delusional thinking
@A Shah what exactly are their rules and where are they deriving them from ?