PA resolution seeks new dept to check blasphemy

LAHORE

Punjab Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the increasing practice of derogatory images and remarks against the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and other sacred personalities of Islam on social media and demanded the government that culprits should be tracked down and punished by death under blasphemy laws Section 295-C of the PPC immediately.

On private members day with Deputy Speaker Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani in the chair, the House took up the resolution by opposition member Khadija Umar of PML-Q, which also demanded the federal government to evolve an effective mechanism to prevent publication of blasphemous material on social media with the help of religious scholars and Information Technology (IT) experts. The House also decided to set up a committee of legislators to monitor implementation of the resolution.

The members from both sides and across the religious spectrum, held that the blasphemous posts were a grave conspiracy to inflame the Muslims and test their love for the Prophet (PBUH) and level of their tolerance by targeting profanities against holy personalities.

The mover said the Constitution of Pakistan permits freedom of expression but strictly restricts humiliation and degradation of any religious personality. Yet certain elements at the behest of enemies were provoking the sentiments of billions of Muslims all over the world.

She expressed sorrow that our institutions responsible for enforcing law and taking action against the perpetrators were mere spectators. The resolutions said the culprits should be made example for others through the award of harshest punishment, failing which could push the society into turmoil and civil war, it added.

The resolution called for immediately blocking all such websites which posted or contained the blasphemous material and for setting up a monitoring system at the federal level to check such publications in the future.

Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan said the utmost respect and love for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is one of the rudimentary articles of our faith and no Muslim can stay aloof if any blasphemous act is done against him or any holy personality. He said blasphemer on this count deserves not less than death as punishment.

The minister said Muslims hurt by the blasphemous act, express their reaction which is natural and cannot be called retrogressive or extremist.

Minister for Minorities Khalil Tahir Sidhu said that death for committing blasphemy against other prophets can also be provided under section 295-C. Law Minister Rana Sanaullah endorsed his view.

Maulana Ilyas Chinioti said the Qadiyanis were behind the blasphemous posts under a conspiracy to spark civil war in the country. Dr Waseem Akhtar of Jamaat-e-Islami said the West had been hatching such conspiracies through its paid agents to incite the Muslims.

But the rulers in the Islamic world are not taking notice of this conspiracy. He demanded the government to set up a department to block such material.

The Leader of the Opposition Mian Mahmudur Rashid termed the blasphemous posts a move to infuriate the Muslims to create chaos in society.

He said sacrificing the life for the sanctity of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is a pride for every Muslim. He asked the House to devise a mechanism that would monitor the following up action on the PA resolution and know what has been done to track down the offenders. 

Maulana Ghayasuddin, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Mian Muhammad Rafiq, Umar Farooq, Arif Abbasi, Dr Farzana and Majid Zahoor also spoke on the resolution.

On another resolution by Dr Najma Afzal Khan, the House was told by Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rahman that the government had included a chapter about the rights of women and their importance in the nation building in the Urdu textbooks from Class 8 up to intermediate level.