SIC threatens to cripple country if blasphemy law changed

LAHORE: While rejecting the proposed parliamentary committee to review the blasphemy law, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Fazl-e-Karim on Tuesday warns that if Islamabad dares to change the law, they will bring the country to a standstill and the government will not be able to rule anymore.
“The Lahore High Court’s decision to stop the president from pardoning Aasia Bibi is laudable, as he has no right to indulge in religious matters. We have constituted a committee, which will consult all political parties in parliament to deter the maddening intentions of the people influenced by the West,” Fazl-e-Karim said in a press conference held at the Lahore Press Club.
He said that it was unfair to stop the congregations of the Barelvi sect only, while giving a free hand to others. “We favor constitutional rights of all sects and communities. The government should stop the promotion of sectarianism as they stopped the Dawat-e-Islami from holding their annual congregation in Gujrat. Our peaceful long march was treated with brutality while special security arrangements and route plans are being worked out for the Tableeghi Ijtima at Raiwind,” Fazl said.
On the occasion, the SIC chairman said that the council will mark December 3 (Friday) to condemn the Punjab government for mishandling the peaceful, “Save Pakistan March” from Bari Imam to the Data Darbar, Lahore. To a question, he categorically stated that he had resigned as the Punjab Muttahida Ulema Board chairman once and for all.
“It’s been a long time since we issued a 23 point charter of demand to the Punjab government. The government is in no mood to accept them and I am in no mood to cooperate with them anymore.” Fazal elaborated. He condemned the threatening letter from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan to Minister of Religious Affairs Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi but at the same time hastened to add, “We are not supporting anyone charged for corruption.
Whosoever is involved in such a practice should be persecuted but after a transparent inquiry has been carried out. I am only talking about the aftereffects of this letter; such actions can cause to deepen the rift between different sects,” Fazl maintained.