KARACHI: Religious scholars quoted a Persian phrase — Naql-e-kufr, kufr na bashed (quoting heresy is not heresy) — in Friday’s Geo News programme, Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath, in defence of another scholar, Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza, who is in custody under sections of blasphemy law as well as Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act.
The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), when asked by the cybercrimes agency, had ruled against Engineer Mirza, saying that while the use of certain undesirable words could be considered acceptable if they were delivered in a context where the intent was to warn against wrongdoing, it noted that this was not the case. The CII recommended action against Mirza under the relevant laws.
Speaking in the programme, Javed Ahmad Ghamidi wondered how the CII, whose terms are clearly defined in the constitution, could go beyond its mandate. He said he could not imagine a Muslim would ever commit blasphemy. He explained that if anything had been uttered inappropriately, the person concerned could only be advised to that effect. Mufti Tariq Masood lamented that certain extremist clerics had made the blasphemy law a tool in their hand, which is an insult to the law itself. He said the Engineer could not be held guilty for quoting something from another religious text.
Allama Amin Shahidi said the controversy was unique to Pakistan, arguing that no such problem existed in any of the 57 Islamic countries. He claimed that by raising such issues, extremism in Pakistan had been taken to its peak, pointing to “some other hidden agenda” at work. Shahidi, a former member of the CII, said he had written to the council’s chairman, and sent a six-page opinion on the matter. He said that according to a few members of the council, the CII meeting’s atmosphere was “strange,” with a few members expressing anger loudly while others wrote the opinion under pressure.
He stressed that the Council’s role was only to clarify whether a quotation without intent amounted to insult. “By going beyond this and making broader allegations, the Islamic Ideology Council has overstepped its mandate,” he said.
Mufti Fazl Hamdard said vouched for Engineer Mirza, but said he should have exercised caution as his statement could be used by his opponents.
Dr Mufti Noman Naeem made it clear that Naql-e-kufr, kufr na bashed (reporting heresy is not heresy), Engineer Mirza’s words did not attract the blasphemy law. No opinion against Mirza could be made without first seeking his opinion. Syed Jawad Naqvi lamented that such issues have gained a kind of commercial proportion. He said the authorities are not showing the sensitivity that is expected from them.
Ammar Khan Nasir also said quoting any blasphemous word is not blasphemy. He said many people use this law out of hatred. Mufti Kashif Ali said cases like these are in fact an attempt to destroy the law, urging all schools of thought to prevent its misuse. He said a decree is not issued on copying a heretical statement.
