LAHORE: Religious scholars and clerics observed ‘Youm-i-Muzammat’ (day of condemnation) on Friday against the brutal lynching of a Sri Lankan national in a Sialkot factory, stating that “no individual, group or organisation has the right to kill or harm any persons accused of blasphemy”.

Addressing the Friday congregations at mosques all over the country, religious scholars and clerics said blasphemy law existed in the country and in case of any complaint, court should be moved and that Sialkot tragedy brought disgrace to Islam and Pakistan.

The religious leadership also appealed to the chief Justice of Pakistan to issue orders to expedite trials of blasphemy cases.

They said the delay in proceedings of such cases raised concerns and doubts among the people and provide an excuse to the anti-Pakistan elements to fan nefarious propaganda.

They said Ulemas and Mashaykh (religious scholars) from all over the country welcomed and supported the announcement by the prime minister and corps commander conference to punish the culprits of Sialkot incident.

They said there was national consensus on condemning Sialkot tragedy, but some elements were targeting the blasphemy laws “to divide the nation.”

Blasphemy law was a “source of protection of the human lives, peace and stability” in the country, they said. They agreed that it was not lawful for a person to take the law into his own hands when these laws existed.

Meanwhile, after leading Juma prayers in the Grand Jamia Masjid Bahria Town, addressing a press conference Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi said today religious scholars and leadership of all the religious schools of thought across the country had raised their unanimous voice against brutal incident of Sialkot.

Mr Ashrafi also announced that an awareness campaign was also being launched in the country regarding the blasphemy laws. “Those who use the name of Islam and Namose-e- Mustafa (Peace Be Upon Him) for their own purposes are also criminals. The nation has to back the security institutions of the country, government and Pakistan Army for eradication of extremism as it had remained united to defeat the menace of terrorism in the country.”

He also said that the declaration of Prime Minister Imran Khan and corps commander conference was an expression of the entire nation’s sentiments. The provincial government was dealing with the Sialkot tragedy in an efficient way, he added, saying the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

He said the leadership of all the religions would make a very important announcement tomorrow (Saturday) regarding the Sialkot incident.

Qureshi: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Friday Pakistan was well aware of its responsibilities as an important regional stakeholder.

He was addressing the Shah Rukn-i-Alam Conference on the 708th Urs celebrations of Hazrat Shah Rukn-i-Alam in Multan.

Mr Qureshi said the Sialkot incident brought a bad name to Pakistan in the world and moderate and sensible people should condemn the incident.

He also urged the religious scholars from different schools of thought to not only condemn the incident but also dissociate themselves from it.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2021