RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s government and Ulema, belonging to different schools of thought have agreed to curb religious intolerance and vowed that nobody will be allowed to take the law into their hands in the name of religion.
Addressing a joint news conference, along with Ulema, in Rawalpindi on Monday, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar strongly condemned the issuance of fatwas against Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
The Minister said the Supreme Court, in its Urdu press release, has clarified that believing in the finality of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is part of every Muslim’s faith.
The Minister said neither law nor society permits anyone to issue decrees against fellow Muslims’ faith. Tarar said a case has been registered against the culprits behind such fatwas, aimed at spreading hatred. He said strict action would be taken in this regard.
Earlier, while addressing a news conference along with Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal in Islamabad, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the law will take its course against the elements behind the provocative and baseless propaganda campaign against Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa.
Khawaja Asif regretted that an attempt was being made to spread bloodshed in the name of religion for vested political interests. He said believing in the finality of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is part of our faith. He said the Supreme Court has already clarified its position on the matter.
The Defence Minister pointed out that Qazi Faez Isa has been targeted for many years under various pretexts. He stated there is an ongoing effort to silence a principled and upright voice within the judiciary.
Emphasizing the need for the rule of law, Khawaja Asif stated that the dictation of any individual or group will not be accepted.
Condemning the propaganda campaign against the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal asserted that individuals or groups who sow seeds of hatred in the name of religion for their own petty political interests should be rejected. He emphasized that no one will be permitted to issue murder fatwas.
