Muslim envoys’ moot summoned against blasphemy: Nisar

Says social media is not important than faith; FIA, PCB to work together to probe spot fixing

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Wednesday warned that social media is not important than faith and it could be closed down for the blasphemy being committed on it.

He said he had invited ambassadors of the Muslim countries for a meeting on Friday to formulate a common strategy against blasphemy. The issue concerned the Islamic world and when Muslim envoys would sit together, it would send an effective message about sentiments of 1.2 billion Muslims, he continued. 

He said that social media and websites could be banned if blasphemy against Holy Prophet (SAW) and holy personalities continued.  Addressing a press conference at the Punjab House he stressed that in light of the court orders, the government would proactively pursue  the matter of blasphemy. He said that networking website Facebook had agreed to send its delegation to Pakistan to resolve the issue. 

The minister said with the approval of the prime minister, he had also approached the Foreign Office to contact Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Raabta Alam-e-Islami for devising a common stance. 

The minister said Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PBC) would work together for investigation into involvement of Pakistani cricketers in spot fixing in matches. FIA and PCB would hold a meeting and decide how to proceed together on the matter of spot fixing. He said a lot of false news continued to appear on media about investigation into the matter. It was wrongly reported that FIA and PCB were in conflict with each other, Nisar added. 

The minister said it was not true that FIA had already determined the extent of the gambling and number of players involved in the crime. The forensic evidence for the FIA investigation was awaited, he said. The minister said he himself talked to Najam Sethi twice and directed the FIA and PCB to act together. He said he wanted to stop damage to the image of Pakistan caused by the spot fixing scandal, which was painful to the cricketers who made Pakistan proud with their accomplishments in the game. 

The minister said Pakistan faced many match fixing incidents in the past as well and in one such incident three Pakistani cricketers were sent to jail for involvement in spot fixing. He said in the interest of justice, it was important that this matter should be taken to its logical conclusion as the persons involved in spot fixing brought bad name to Pakistan.

Nisar said that FIA which need not write or apply to anybody to initiate a probe, would completely investigate the matter. He said High Court had already directed on more than one occasion for inquiry into the matter. The issue was not that easy to handle as bookies in underworld were operating from places like India, England and Dubai, he remarked. 

He said the government would seek mutual legal assistance from other countries with an aim to root out the crime.  The minister said an incident came to his notice in which a group of lawyers beat up a police officer inside a court in Islamabad. Later, a delegation of police high ups met him and conveyed it would not be possible for them to provide security for courts in Islamabad after this incident. The issue started, when the policeman impounded motorcycle of a lawyer at night when he was driving without documents, Nisar said adding police officers had great reservations as they felt humiliated because of torture of their colleague. The minister said in the past, lawyers were involved in many incidents of abuse of judges, media men and others. A committee had been formed to take up the matter with registrar of Islamabad High Court, he said and hoped that the issue would be resolved amicably. 

To a question, the minister criticised Sindh chief minister for issuing a statement in which he threatened to send federal officials out of his province. Nisar said the Sindh chief minister could not do it as it was not possible under the constitution and law. 

Replying to another question about Sharjeel Memon who was accused of corruption, the minister said media should focus on those involved in corruption instead of airing statements of politicians blaming him for action against them.