The Sunni Ittehad Council on Thursday declared watching Geo network’s TV channel as ‘Haraam’ (forbidden).
In a press conference, SIC leader Sahibzada Hamid Raza, joined by former senator Faisal Raza Abidi, said that Geo TV had hurt the religious sentiments of millions by disrespecting the Holy personalities of Islam and therefore, watching the channels of Geo network was haraam.
Raza said that the channel ridiculed the Islamic beliefs. He said that watching any channel disrespecting Islamic beliefs or taking part in any such programme is also against Islam.
He demanded if YouTube could be banned for blasphemy, the same should be done against Geo TV.
The SIC appealed to the cable operators to stop the broadcast of the channel.
Speaking at the press conference, Faisal Raza Abidi said that playing qawalis and manqabats on weddings is a norm but the behaviour of the show participants was a clear disrespect of the Islamic personalities.
The SIC has demanded strict action against the TV channel and announced that it will be taking legal action against the channel’s blasphemy attempt.
Religious leaders of Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned Geo TV for hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims by playing manqabat ‘ Ali ke Saath hai Zahra ki Shaadi’ during the wedding reenactment of film Actress Veena Malik in its morning show.
In the morning show, hosted by Dr. Shaista Wahidi on Wednesday, a live music band played the sufi number during the wedding reenactment of Veena Malik while the attendants at the event danced to it and continued with conducting Joota Chupai during the manqabat.
In a talk show hosted on Wednesday evening by Mubasher Lucman, religious leaders including Sunni Ittehad Council leader Shahibzada Hamid Raza, Allama Abbas Kumaili, Allama Tahir Ashrafi, Shia Ulma Council leader Allama Mazhar Abbas Rizvi, Vice President of Tahaffuz e Azadari Council Ali Raza Bukhari and others condemned Geo TV for disrespecting Islamic personalities and hurting the sentiments of their followers.
Ali Raza Bukhari, VP of Tahaffuz e Azadari Council, while talking to the news channel, said that Geo TV has attempted blasphemy by disrespecting the family of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and demanded a legal action.
‘ Ali ke Saath hai Zahra ki Shaadi’ is a renowned manqabat sung by Qawaal Amjad Sabri. It is about the wedding of Hazrat Fatima Zehra (AS), daughter of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH), with Hazrat Ali (AS), Muhammad’s (PBUH) cousin and closest companion.