KARACHI – Hundreds of politicians, journalists, lawyers and civil society activists signed letters for Citizens for Democracy’s interfaith harmony campaign ‘Silence means more blood’ on Saturday.
They joined hands against increasing religious extremism and terrorist activities in Pakistan, and demanded that the assassins of Salmaan Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti be apprehended, charged, tried and punished like other criminals.
A camp was set up in front of the Jehangir Kothari Parade in Clifton, where the letters addressed to the president, PM, interior minister and CJP were signed for interfaith harmony and action against calls for violence and vigilante justice.
Justice (retd) Fakhruddin Ibrahim, Justice (retd) Majida Rizvi, Nasreen Jalil, Hasil Bizenjo, Najmi Alam, Fauzia Wahab, Hameed Haroon, Hameed Maker, Ahmed Chinoy, Asad Saeed, Atiqa Odho, Umar Sayeed and many others signed the letters.
The citizens demanded that action be taken against rampant lawlessness in the country, where extremists are operating with impunity and calls for murder and violence are publicly made, celebrated and rewarded. They urged political parties, parliamentarians and government functionaries to take a clear stand on the blasphemy issue.
“It should be made clear that no citizen has the right to cast aspersions on the faith and beliefs of other citizens, or to call someone a ‘blasphemer,’ ‘kafir,’ or ‘non-Muslim’,” the letter said. The signature campaign aimed to dissipate the atmosphere of intimidation, and draw people out of their homes and enable them to speak up and voice their concerns.
The volunteers announced that the campaign would be duplicated in other parts of the city – including North Nazimabad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Boulton Market – as well as in Lahore, Islamabad and other cities. The letter demanded that increasing number of blasphemy cases were being registered, which should be discouraged along with the misuse of the blasphemy law. It should be ensured that no case is registered without a detailed investigation by a magistrate.
“All those who spread hate should be punished, such as Masjid Mohabbat Khan’s pesh imam Maulana Yousuf Qureshi who announced Rs 500,000 as reward to anyone who would kill Asia Bibi if she is freed by the Lahore High Court,” the letter demanded. Omar Farooqi, a volunteer, told Pakistan Today that the drive was not against any person or group, but against extremism and terrorism.
Reema Abbasi, another volunteer, said that the campaign wanted citizens to stop being silent, and raise their voice for protecting the people from the misuse of certain laws. Farieha Aziz, an assistant editor of an English magazine, said that hundreds of people from different walks of life participated in the drive and signed the letters.
