LAHORE – The hard-line Sunni Ittehad Council leadership on Monday warned the federal government of civil disobedience if it opts for amendments in the blasphemy laws.
They issued this warning while addressing the Tahafaz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat Ulema-o-Mashaikh Convention at the Aiwan-e-Iqbal. The audience endorsed the decision of their leaders by chanting slogans and raising their hands in support.
Speakers said that they were ready to sacrifice hundreds of thousands democratic principles on dignity of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
“We are ready to tender our life on name of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and ready to take lives of others as well, if they desecrate the Holy Prophet (PBUH)”,
Naeemian Association President Mufti Haseeb Qadri said.
The speakers urged the Sharif brothers to break their silence on the issue otherwise they would be considered as partners of the West’s agenda. Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Fazal Karim not only condemned silence of the rulers regarding blasphemy laws but also announced that the council would launch a civil disobedience movement if the government did not disassociate itself from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Sherry Rehman’s private bill and efforts to change the Namoos-e-Risalat laws.
He criticised the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) for their “misdeeds” in the past and announced that the council would not join hands with such forces, which used the name of Islam for promoting their personal agenda.
“In Punjab and Sindh, banned outfits are being patronised by the provincial governments and workers of these banned outfits are not only busy in terrorism but also involved in occupying mosques of different sects,” Karim alleged. Sunni leaders said that their alliance would play its political role in the upcoming general elections.
“If the OIC suspends oil supply to the US and other western powers for only one week, India could not resist solving the Kashmir issue,” Karim said.