BANNU/LAKKI MARWAT: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that some secular forces are trying to pave the way for amendments in the country’s blasphemy law in the wake of tragic incident of lynching of a student at Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan. However, he warned against any such step, adding the no Muslim could tolerate amendments in the blasphemy law.

The JUI-F chief was talking to mediapersons after dastar bandi (convocation) ceremony at Mirajul Uloom, Bannu, and his meeting with a delegation led by Asmatullah Wazir at Mewakhel House on Wednesday.

He condemned the Mardan incident and demanded an immediate investigation into the matter to expose real faces behind the incident in which a student, Mashal Khan, was lynched. He demanded exemplary punishment to those held responsible to halt such incidents in future.

Mr Rehman said that conspiracies were being hatched to target the Islamic ideology and vitiate the peaceful situation in Pakistan. He said that through non-issues like Panama Leaks case time of the nation was being wasted. Answering a question, he said that the Supreme Court verdict and not a ‘storm’ would come on Thursday (today).

Demands probe into Mardan lynching incident

He said that tribal people should be taken into confidence regarding any reforms. He said that they would stand with the Fata people at this critical juncture. Party leader Akram Khan Durrani also accompanied him during the visit.

In Lakki Marwat, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that it was the responsibility of the state and institutions to protect the lives of innocent citizens. He was talking to mediapersons at tehsil nazim’s office in Lakki city after addressing party activists and local councillors at the residence of party leader Mufti Ameer Nawaz in Sherkhankhel locality.

The JUI-F chief said that Mardan incident was lamentable as perpetrators of the act instigated students through wrong propagation of blasphemy. Demanding an impartial inquiry into the incident and punishment to the accused, he said that such incidents could have been averted had the blasphemy law implemented in its true spirit.

He said that he was in contact with leaders of the religious political forces for making an alliance. “The JUI will also take up the issue of religious parties’ alliance and devise a strategy for coming general elections in its Shura meeting to be held next month,” he said.

He said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project would open a new era of development in Lakki Marwat and other southern districts of the province.

The JUI-F chief said that there were no chances of complete end to electricity loadshedding in the near future. However, he added that the government was launching new projects in power sector to overcome energy crisis in the country.

MPA Munawar Khan, tehsil nazim Hidayatullah and JUI district chief Maulana Abdul Rahim were also present on this occasion.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2017