The day in the Urdu media: Rallies and demonstrations in support of the killer of Salman Taseer in Pakistan
By New Age Islam Edit Desk
While the world was condemning the assassination of Punjab’s Governor Salman Taseer In the strongest terms and the political leaders in Pakistan including Asif Ali Zardari were assuring the people of Pakistan that the guilty will be brought to book, there were demonstrations and rallies by religious organisations in support of the killer bodyguard Mumtaz Qadri in different towns of Pakistan praising the killer for his ‘brave act’ and praying for a place in heaven for him. Here is the translation of a news report from the daily Jasarat, Pakistan:
“Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Gujarat: Demonstrations were put up and rallies were taken out in different towns of Pakistan yesterday for the release of the policeman Mumtaz Qadri who killed Punjab governor Salman Taseer and the leaders of different organisations visited Mumtaz Qadri’s house and presented bouquets and garlands to his relatives. Sunni Ittehad Council, Shabab-e-Islami and Tehreek-e-Fidayan-Khatm-e-Nubuwwat had demanded his release and warned that if he was not released, it will lead to more provocation among the people. They said that Salman Taseer was killed because of his irresponsible statements and callous attitude of the government. On Friday, the leader of Sunni Ittehad Council Allama Haider Alwi, the leader of Shabab Islami Mufti Hanif Qureshi and the leader of Tehrik-e-Fidayan-e-Nubuwwat Mufti Mahmood Tabassum went to Mumtaz Qadri’s house alongwith their activists. The people present on the occasion distributed bouquets of flowers and garlands outside his house and congratulated the elders of his villagers. A national Day of the holy warrior Mumtaz Ghazi was celebrated at the call of Almi Tanzeem Ahle Sunnat and other religious organisations. The scholars of Islam from all over the country shed light on importance and significance of the Blasphemy Laws. The Cetral Amir of Markaz Ahle Sunnat Peer Mohammad Afzal Qadri and other scholars said that the blasphemer deserves to be killed (wajibul qatl) irrespective of whether he is a Muslim or non-Muslim. The governor was killed because of his irresponsible statements, he said. On the occasion, the Almi Ahle Sunnat announced that Mumtaz Qadri will be conferred the Gazi-e-Islam Award and they will fight his case. Moreover, they will build his memorial in the Namoos-e-Risalat Campus. The Central Ameer of Jamat Ahle Sunnat Pakistan Syed Mazhar Sayeed Kazmi, Central General Secretary Allama Syed Reyaz Hussain Shah, Mufti Md Iqbal Chishti, Pir Md Safdar Shah Geelani, Allama Shah Turabul Haq Qadri and Nawaz Kharal expressed their deep concern over the news of torture on Mumtaz Qadri.”
The popular Urdu daily in India Rashtriya Sahara has also based its editorial today on the anarchy and lawlessness in Pakistan. The editorial says that the religious fanaticism has given way to such a grave lawlessness that every citizen thinks that he has the right to punish anyone he thinks is guilty. He is ready to kill or declare anyone wajibul qatl who does not agree with his views. It presents the example of Mumtaz Qadri who killed his master and said that he killed him because he advocated change in the blasphemy laws. But the fact is that he had made it clear in his life that he had not demanded any changes in the blasphemy laws of the country; he had told the correspondents that he believed that Asia Bibi was innocent and and was framed by some influential persons of her town due to personal enmity. But the Pakistani media launched a campaign against him giving the impression that he was advocating changes in the blasphemy laws. The editorial also takes a look at the issue from a very different angle. It says:
“A very interesting aspect of this murder is that the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has owned the responsibility of this assassination with great pride but the person who killed Salman Taseer is associated with Bareillvi sect and the Bareillvi sect has itself been a victim of terrorism in Pakistan. Tahreek Taliban and its affiliates Sipah-e-Sahaba and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi have eliminated many Muslim leaders of the sect in the past. No one is going to believe that this murder was executed by Taliban. In fact, the Bareillvi Sect has started efforts to keep itself in the limelight and has been running an intense campaign against the proposed changes in the blasphemy laws. They say that since the campaign for changes in the blasphemy laws was being run at the behest of the US and the UK, the Taliban is not opposing it. It should be noted that the Bareillvi, Shia and Sufi sects have accused that the Taliban have been backing the US and the UK conspiracy to destroy Pakistan.”
Whatever be the case, Salman Taseer’s assassination might well become a turning point in the politics of Pakistan and it will lead to even greater radicalization of Pakistan politics as it did during the 50s when the anti Ahmadiyya movement had taken the entire Pakistan in its grip. Mumtaz Qadri will be fostered as the new symbol of Islamic pride In Pakistan and democracy will suffer even more.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-media/the-day-urdu-media-rallies/d/3903