Present rulers put in power to end Pak ideological moorings: Fazl

KARACHI: President of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Thursday that purpose to bring present rulers into power was to end Pakistan's ideological independence.

He said that the religious parties will continue their campaign against any attempt to change the blasphemy law and any such attempt will be resisted. Speaking to the ‘Tahafuz Namoos-e-Risalat Million March’ on Shahrah-e-Quaideen on Thursday, Rehman, who is also the chief of Jamiat Ulema Islam-F, commented that the Supreme Court’s decision in Aasia Bibi’s case was not based on merit but a consequence of the international pressure on the government seeking her release.

Fazl said “more protest demonstrations will be held in all the divisional headquarters across the country after Friday prayers (today) against the verdict,” adding another million march will be held in Lahore and Sukkur on November 15 and 25 respectively.

Rehman said the participants of the march had warned the government that any attempt to amend the blasphemy laws will not be tolerated. He added the MMA ‘caravan’ has begun its journey and would not compromise on its demands.

Rehman charged that Pakistan is being turned into a secular state and its ideological identity is being removed. Rehman criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, alleging a group of party in the parliament is lobbying to recognize Israel as a legitimate state. He alleged that Prime Minister Imran Khan is working on the Jewish agenda to remove the Islamic system from Pakistan. He also warned the government against arresting the workers of religious parties.

Addressing the rally, the Jamaat-e-Islami’s Karachi chief, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, said those supporting Asia’s release are a small secular segment who have nothing to do with the larger Pakistani nation.

The leaders of all the MMA allied parties attended the demonstration and addressed the participants. The march started from Numaish after Asr prayers and culminated at the intersection near the Khalid bin Waleed Road. Due to road blockade, severe traffic jam was witnessed on the major arteries of the city.