Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Maulana Tahir Ashrafi on Friday warned of “dire consequences” if the country’s existing blasphemy laws are reviewed, saying that the entire Ulema community was on the same page regarding the laws.
Talking to Online, Ashrafi said that not only Muslims but non-Muslims too had agreed on the need for blasphemy laws.
“We need to check the misuse of blasphemy laws and recommendations in this regard have been tabled in the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII),” he said, adding that all CIII members were of the same opinion in the matter.
He said that stern punishments should be proposed for those misusing the blasphemy laws to settle their personal scores. “Maulana Sherani first agreed with the recommendation but then changed his opinion in the next meeting.”
“The CII has also sent its recommendations on under-age marriages to government and it would be hazardous to retouch such issues,” Ashrafi said, adding that CII sends its recommendations and proposals to government based on the consensus of Ulemas and not on the basis of personal views of Maulana Sherani.
“Some elements are conspiring to make the blasphemy laws controversial but PUC would foil their nefarious designs,” he said.
