JUI-F Senator Haidri says will block 'any amendment' to blasphemy law

E-Paper | September 30, 2026

JUI-F Senator Haidri says will block 'any amendment' to blasphemy law

Javed Hussain Published October 10, 2018

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Secretary General Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri. Photo:File

comments

Join our Whatsapp Channel

Add Dawn as a trusted source

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) secretary general Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri on Wednesday opposed any amendments to the blasphemy law, which was under discussion in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee for Information and Technology.

As a discussion on amendments to curtail the misuse of the law started, Maulana Haidri said: "Why is the blasphemy law alone the topic of so much discussion?"

To this, he was told that the law was being reviewed as it was being widely misused.

Also read: A brief history of the anti-blasphemy laws

The Maulana's retort was that, "other laws are also being misused in the country, but no one seems to mind that and thus we will not let this law be changed either."

He also dropped a threat, saying that the blasphemy law had previously "taken a lot of lives, and if anyone tries to touch it, they will be the ones held responsible for any damage caused."

He also said that if any step to amend the law is taken, his party will show "complete resistance" and even block it in the National Assembly and Senate.

"We will tell the people the complete truth behind this," he said before marching out of the meeting along with Senator Fida Muhammad Khan.

As a result of the walkout, the committee's meeting was adjourned indefinitely.

Blasphemy

Pakistan

The untold story of Pakistan’s blasphemy law

Why blasphemy remains unpardonable in Pakistan

Our hero of the day: A boy presenting his chopped hand on a plate

Ahmed bin Babar

Oct 10, 2018 08:29pm

Are they in majority for blocking an amendment or they love hurling threats as per their mindset..?!

Recommend 0

Mohan

Oct 10, 2018 08:29pm

Why was the meeting adjourned just because these two fellows walked out?

Recommend 0

Oct 10, 2018 08:34pm

Stay in stone ages. Word “merciful “means anything to you. Most of the people tried so far are mentally ill or accuser settling scores.

Recommend 0

M. Saeed

Oct 10, 2018 08:41pm

They will never agree to any improvement in any law on fear of losing their grip on the nerves of masses.

Recommend 0

SHAHID SATTAR

Oct 10, 2018 08:44pm

Every day most laws of the country are being abused and misused by the people who say and think they are above the laws of the country. Why does the senate committee has to touch only the Blasphemy law for amending the same? It is incomprehensible to understand that this particular law needs to be amended while any other laws requiring amendments can be put on hold or in cold storage for an unlimited time period.

Recommend 0

A Shah

Oct 10, 2018 09:02pm

Well done

Recommend 0

AK Manjiwala

Oct 10, 2018 09:11pm

These people have greatly contributed towards the backwardness of country and have been on the wrong side of the history.

Recommend 0

Iampakistani

Oct 10, 2018 09:11pm

lovely!

Recommend 0

akram

Oct 10, 2018 09:28pm

this sums up the third rate calibre of people in the jui-f. Some people are not interested in the pursuit of justice, they prefer the pursuit of fear, because they don't actually have anything to offer the modern world.

Recommend 0

akram

Oct 10, 2018 09:28pm

Recommend 0

Patriot

Oct 10, 2018 09:43pm

@SHAHID SATTAR Just imagine if you were at the receiving end of this law!!!

Recommend 0

M S Alvi (USA)

Oct 10, 2018 10:12pm

Haideri, how can you block the bill if you do not have votes? Stop making threats. Go and get some education.

Recommend 0

Hemant

Oct 10, 2018 10:21pm

@Patriot he is at receiving end. On the day of judgement what would be looked, how compassionate you were or how rigid you were? A small victory to get accolade without any imagination can make you loose the whole game!

Recommend 0

Patriot

Oct 10, 2018 10:22pm

@M S Alvi (USA) Exactly, there shouldn't be any place for people in Naya Pakistan who were against the very creation of Pakistan. They should better improve the moral condition of its followers.

Recommend 0

SHAHID SATTAR

Oct 10, 2018 10:41pm

@Patriot Every one, including you and myself, are not above the laws of the land. We are answerable for all our deeds and misdeeds, both here and in the hereafter. So are those whom we bring into power.

Recommend 0

Pathanoo

Oct 10, 2018 10:48pm

People like this Maulan are the bane of Pakistan. Haideri wants to keep Pakistan in the 7th Century.

Recommend 0

Gen Pasha ret.

Oct 10, 2018 10:56pm

Unbelievable that he has openly made a death threat and no action is being taken against him !

Recommend 0

Oct 10, 2018 11:27pm

At least he admitted that this law is being misused. Good progress.

Recommend 0

Oct 10, 2018 11:28pm

Blasphemy law does not need to be changed, it needs to be repealed. Bold action is required in the parliament to fix the wrongs of the yesterday

Recommend 0

Parvez

Oct 10, 2018 11:55pm

The head of his own party Maulan Fazal-u-Rehman is on record saying that this law needs to be reviewed .....one of the few sensible statements made by him.

Recommend 0

N. Rahim, Toronto

Oct 11, 2018 12:35am

@Ahmed bin Babar The latter.

Recommend 0

N. Rahim, Toronto

Oct 11, 2018 12:38am

@SHAHID SATTAR You got to start somewhere.

Recommend 0

Feroze

Oct 11, 2018 12:44am

This law must be amended as soon as possible. There is no room for such laws in Pakistan. "Maulana", Abdul Ghafoor Haideri is a self proclaimed Maulana. Who awarded him the guardianship of Islam? Let us do away with people such as these.

Recommend 0

Feroze

Oct 11, 2018 12:54am

@SHAHID SATTAR Because this is the easiest way to obtain "Death Sentence" against a person if you don't like him/her.

Recommend 0

Bharat

Oct 11, 2018 01:29am

A great law, based on principle of SHARIA, should be permanently enshrined in Pakistan Constitution.

Recommend 0

MALIK

Oct 11, 2018 02:09am

This Mulla does not deserve to be a Senator. We should have two-term election where we get rid of all these duplicates. Can someone check the Moulana's religious credentials? Honestly, I am sceptical. The job of the Senate is legislation based on majoriy rule, or compromise of some sort---not boycatt and threat.

Recommend 0

zak

Oct 11, 2018 02:12am

It is this lot that is an impediment to Pakistans progress. For them ‘blasphemy’ is a tool to used in the gain for power. To use the illiterate masses to keep them in power through issues that should not be issues. Most blasphemy cades have proben to be, people settling scores.

Recommend 0

Kazmi

Oct 11, 2018 02:41am

These Mullas are biggest problem. Keep religion away from politics

Recommend 0

Ahsan Gul

Oct 11, 2018 02:52am

These are the type of mullahs who send their children to overseas for western education but like to keep rest of Pakistanis in the dark. They use Islam as a tool and their personal profile to impress public.

Recommend 0

zak

Oct 11, 2018 03:51am

‘He also dropped a threat, saying that the blasphemy law had previously "taken a lot of lives, and if anyone tries to touch it, they will be the ones held responsible for any damage caused." Who threatens violence against the state. Who has given him authority to decide about blasphemy law. He is not even a scholar. It is these people, who are the RSS of this country. Public should get rid of them.

Recommend 0

Maria enteparia onnuchoriu

Oct 11, 2018 05:07am

Backward people are every where.

Recommend 0

Sukhbir K Maggu

Oct 11, 2018 05:34am

Here is one who needs to be ousted from the Body Politic of Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Rajesh

Oct 11, 2018 05:55am

Now these people will start agitations / blocking roads etc.

Recommend 0

Casual observer

Oct 11, 2018 06:07am

@Mohan because they form the mindset of the majority and hence the adjournment.

Recommend 0

Nadir

Oct 11, 2018 06:36am

Naya Pakistan have rejected these type of people.

Recommend 0

Throw

Oct 11, 2018 06:47am

@SHAHID SATTAR Then you should be asking for a review of all laws, not preventing this one from being reviewed.

Recommend 0

rehaan

Oct 11, 2018 07:14am

Economy of Pakistan is in Mess, Pakistan is facing extreme Terrorism and these Mullahs are just brainwashing people in the name of Jehad!! Pakistan should actively ban Mullah culture and should build a scientific society.

Recommend 0

M Mirza

Oct 11, 2018 07:47am

I wish Bhutto was alive. He knew how to handle these Mullahs. They have no other concern

Recommend 0

Uzair

Oct 11, 2018 08:14am

@SHAHID SATTAR The problem is that other laws are sometimes misused, and the blasphemy law is sometimes not misused.

Recommend 0

Asif Ali

Oct 11, 2018 08:35am

Very bad grip.

Recommend 0

SHAHID SATTAR

Oct 11, 2018 01:12pm

@Feroze Any wrong doer who blames any innocent person of having committed blasphemy must be punished severely too. That should be made mandatory without touching any other matters related to this law.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

28 years of McDonald’s Pakistan: celebrating the local partners behind the Golden Arches

The milestone highlighted the structural evolution of the company's local procurement model.

Etihad Town Sialkot delivers Possession ahead of time

The project was delivered within just 1.5 years against a 3-year payment plan, while commercial possession had already been handed over to customers in January 2026.