PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED ON THE MERE ACCUSATION OF BLASPHEMY: ALTAF HUSSAIN
KARACHI: 4TH MARCH 2011
Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement Mr. Altaf Hussain has said that MQM rejects all forms of violence for achieving political aims. MQM rejects religious extremism and believes in the policy of live and let live. He said that people were being killed in the country on mere accusation of having committed blasphemy without any proofs. He was addressing a huge gathering in Clifton, Karachi organized jointly by the Defence Clifton Residents Committee and the Council of Professionals of the MQM. Members of Diplomatic Community, Businessmen, Industrialist, lawyers, Film and TV artists, Sportsmen, intellectuals, columnist, Students and hundreds of men and women belongs to different segment of society were attended the gathering.
“I had been warning against the spread of Talibanization for the past many years but I was mocked at and vicious propaganda was unleashed against me. Now you have awakened to the threats of Talibanization yourself. I carried forward with my struggle even in the face of sharp opposition because I meant good of the people. But you must prepare yourself for meeting the challenges instead of relying upon MQM for everything.”
“I have always opposed religious extremism in my speeches. I have talked against sharia forced upon people by means of baton and Kalashnikov. I spoke openly against the public flogging of a sixteen year old girl in Sawat in the name of enforcing sharia.”
“In Tunis it was the people belonging to the middle class that rose up in revolution. MQM is also a political of the people belonging to poor and middle class. Members of assemblies belonging to MQM are from middle class which easily be verified. They are all educated and hardworking people.”
“MQM rejects all forms of corruption and believes in establishing a society where everyone has equal rights irrespective of caste, colour, creed and religious belief. MQM is working to bring a system in the country where citizens have equal access to opportunities in every sphere of life and where they can aspire to go to the corridors of power.”
“MQM believes in religious tolerance, amity and peaceful coexistence. It believes in the policy of live and let live. What we are seeing today is contrary to the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) who taught us peace and coexistence but unfortunately nowadays the masjids, imam bargahs, shrines of saints and markets places are made target of suicide bomb blasts. Innocent people including women and children are being made the target of murderous attack in the name of Islam. This is being done by misguiding the people and distorting the teachings of Islam to gain the vested interests.”
“People are being killed under the pretext of blasphemy law. Politicians and Christian leaders are being killed by accusing them of committing blasphemy. Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti was killed on 2nd March and Governor Punjab Salman Taseer was killed on 4th January 2011 after being accused of committing blasphemy. None of them in fact uttered a single blasphemous word. Their only crime was that they were seeking amendment in some portions of Pakistan Penal Code.”
“To say anything regarding amendments in blasphemy law has been made a big crime. What is the purpose of the parliament and all the legislative bodies if people have to be killed on the pretext of mere accusation? Parliament can discuss issues and bring amendments in the laws. It can even bring new laws if the need arises.”
“It is the national duty of everyone particularly the students to know as to what is happening in Pakistan.”
“Anybody can go to a police station and lodged a complaint that someone has committed blasphemy. Once the complaint is lodged rallies and protests are being held without obtaining any proofs regarding the allegation. Is there any justification in accusing someone for blasphemy without producing evidence?”
“A large number of people talk about blasphemy law. There are politicians and hundreds of political parties that talk incessantly about blasphemy without actually knowing about blasphemy and the blasphemy laws.”
“Blasphemy laws were first enunciated by the British Parliament in 1698 and when the Indian sub-continent was brought under the British crown, and the blasphemy laws were repealed in 1860 to facilitate Christian missionaries in their proselytizing efforts. The laws were later brushed up and reintroduced by military dictator General Ziaul Haque in 1986.”
“I appeal humbly to religious scholars of all the schools of thought to sit together. Whether they are Sunnis or Shias, whether they are the followers of Imam Abu Hanifa or Imam Jaffer Sadiq, whether they are the followers of Imam Shafayee or Imam Malik, whether they are Brelvies or Deobandies, they must all sit together and discuss the blasphemy laws on the touchstone of the Quran and the Sunnah. I request them all to reach one conclusion and support it by verses from the Quran and authentic Hadith so that no one in the future has to meet the same fate as Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti.”
He asked the audience to raise their hands to support a resolution for making the famous speech by Quaid-i-Azam to the Constituent Assembly on 11th August 1947 a part of the course from nursery to Ph. D. level, in which he said, You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed-that has nothing to do with the business of the State.” The audience supported the resolution by raising their hands. Mr Altaf Hussain asserted that anyone who has a national identity card and passport is a citizen of Pakistan. “All Pakistanis are equal. There is no such thing as majority or minority.”