Man accused of blasphemy after refusing to join anti-Islam film protest
Protestors demonstrating against a US-made anti-Islam film ridiculing the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in Karachi, Pakistan. — Photo by AP
HYDERABAD: A businessman accused of blasphemy has gone underground and wants the religious leaders to hear his viewpoint.
Haji Nasrullah, who owns a market at Hala Naka area off National Highway and is the chairman of a local shopkeepers association, originally hails from Mohmand Agency.
According to Munir Abbasi, a police officer at the Hatri police station, Nasrullah was booked for blasphemy offence under sections 295-B and C on the complaint of Kachkol Khan.
Blasphemy is punishable by life in prison or death under Pakistani laws. Human rights groups and civil society organisations often call for repealing it on the ground that it is badly misused, particularly against religious minorities for settling personal scores.
Abbasi explains that the trouble began on Sunday night when the city observed a strike against an anti-Islam film.
“Some protesters wanted shops at the Hala Naka area closed in protest against the anti-Islam movie to which Nasrullah objected,” he said.
According to Azam Jehangiri, some shopkeepers including the president of the association Najeeb Ahmed reported the matter to a mufti in a nearby mosque. “Ahmed alleged that Nasrullah used some very objectionable remarks against the Holy Prophet,” said Jehangiri, who is associated with Maulana Fazal Rehman’s Jamiat-i-Islam.
“Mufti Ashfaq asked whether he has witnesses to substantiate his claim. Ahmed accordingly produced those witnesses,” Jehangiri recalled.
Subsequently, Abbasi says, after a brief gathering in the area mosque, scores of outraged religious parties activists and seminary students tried to attack Nasrullah’s house, leading to a clash.
As a result of firing, three persons namely Abdul Baseer and Mohammad Afzal (who were among protesters) and Qamaruzzaman brother of Haji Nasrullah received injuries.
“Nasrullah got an FIR of attempted murder lodged against the protesters,” he said.
Maulana Taj Mohammad Nahyoon, Hyderabad district president JUI (Fazal), is currently spearheading protests against Nasrullah and demanding his arrest.
He had an FIR registered against Nasrullah for alleged blasphemy after addressing a press conference at the local press club on Monday afternoon.
“We want Nasrullah arrested as we have produced our witnesses against Nasrullah and they all have deposed on oath that he did commit blasphemy,” Nahyoon said while talking to Dawn.com.
Meanwhile, Nasrullah has gone into hiding. He has not been arrested nor has he been able to seek pre-arrest bail so far. Although he is not answering his cellphone, he has made an effort to get his point across to the Mufti Ashfaq who was instrumental in getting the FIR registered.
On Wednesday, Nasrullah sent Haji Asmatullah Mehsood, who is associated with ANP and runs his business in Hala Naka area, to Jamia Muftahul Uloom. Mehsood met with Nahyoon and Jehangiri as well as other people.
“The gathering was chaired by me and it was attended by Shaikhul Hadees Mufti Ghulam Mohammad Junejo, Mufti Habibullah, Mufti Fasih, Maulana Saifur Rehman, Maulana Abdul Salam and others in seminary,” said Nahyoon.
He added that the purpose of the meeting was to verify the ‘involvement of personal enmity’.
“This is a sensitive issue. However, all of us are satisfied that an FIR was properly lodged with statement of witnesses,” he said.
“Since the FIR has been lodged after due verification of facts, the issue can’t be resolved at this level. Now we want him arrested,” he said.
Mehsood, on the other hand, confirms having met religious leaders.
“I haven’t met Nasrullah…he is not available but someone from his side approached me so that his viewpoint can be presented to the other side,” he says, adding: “I have got nothing to do with this issue directly.”
Majlis-e-Tahfuz-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwat is also actively participating in protests on the issue and demanding arrest of the accused. They said that they will hold a protest on Friday if he is not arrested.
Democracy or Theocracy ? Modern Age or Dark ages? A male ‘Joan of Arc’ in 2012 ??
Are there any muslims in Pakistan at all? Its mistakenly labelled a muslim-majority country everywhere.
Majlis-e-Tahfuz-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwat needs to get their bearings right. You cannot and should not make someone to protest with you if they do not want to. Read Surah-Al-Feel and its translation. and also remember the approach prophet Mohammed PBUH took when people were giving him hard times in the earlier days of Islam. Mein kis ke haath pey apna lahoo talash karoon – Tamam shehar ney pehney huay hain dastaney.
It’s best to ignore about this film. I am a Hindu (from India) and I condemn such a film. However, there is no need to arrest someone on blasphemy charges like this. The Messengers and Prophets of God (Peace be upon them) are so great that nothing can undermine their messages for humanity.
The world will come to an end not because of the evil of bad men but because of the silence of the good ones.
The current generation is so uneducated that they cannot rationalize; there is nothing that can bring sanity back to them. We must all focus on educating the next lot in proper schools, where they are taught to think for themselves. India has already done that. Only then will they be able to understand the modern world and quit demonstrating when anyone in this world does something offensive.
Servants of a few lines written by clerics shall always hold the humanity to hostage. Instead of defending the virtues enshrined the Book they are posing as saviors of the Saviour whose reputation is unasailable. By demonstrating such intolerant vicious behavior they are at best bringing the clash of civilization nearer than ever. Chawla
God save Islam from Pakistanis.
They must be settling some old score with the accused. He seems to be doomed now because (i) judicial system of Pakistan is based on witnesses (ii) witnesses are a market commodity in Islamic Republic of Pakistan that can be bought and sold, and (iii) blasphemy law is the most recent divine revelation dawned upon all politico-religious leaders.
blasphemy is galatphemy. Live and let live.
those that the gods wish to destroy, they first make them mad.
Apt for the happenings of this land of the pure. Even the protest banner is in English, which most of the hordes behind it can neither read nor understand, bt is done to reach the message to western media which covers these events.
Blasphemy and the cowards who use it – 2 faces of the coin of intolerance and the road to Jehannum….
I hope the authorities in this case, and society at large, realize how disproportionate is the weapon in a malicious person’s hands – anybody can be accused, and any sort of witnesses can be produced for the ‘crime’. Lawlessness is defined as such, so hopefully Pakistan’s saner minds wake up fast and do something about this particular law. There’s a lot for Pakistan to strive for and achieve, and imploding into a failed state is not one of them. But actually, recent events somehow reassure me that all is not lost, and law-and-order enforcement (the police) can still be professional. Hope that happens – good luck from India!
Good going “Aashiq e rasool”! (Prophet lovers). Destroy and kill ppl in the name of the Prophet and he (pbuh) will be so proud of thee.
The guy who made this movie should be really laughing. The effects are way more than what he could have imagines.
Why only one guy, the whole world laughing at Pakistan.
first they came from sikhs and hindus. then for shias and ahmedis .. and now….
Excellent comment. The situation is messed up beyond belief.
The current situation cannot be expressed better than how you put it. History is repeating itself and common man feel helpless, hijacked and waiting for leadership to emerge…… All local political, criminal and deprived element is behind this blind religious rhetoric across the country to gain power and pin down any opposition…… Scary situation for every common hard working person in the society..
Punishment for not joining violence…!!!!!!
brothers make ur laws little tolerant that will good for ur society,let God punish those whose abuse Them
thanks god am not born in Pakistan!
Pakistani bhaio aur behno, BURN THE BLASPHEMY LAW and become human beings once again.
Zimbo. if you seriously think we are brother and sisters of yours since you have indian as your last name there. i suggest you to read the law first and you may find same in your country for Hinduism. or for any religion. we respect your religion and for all the religious figures. we will not disrespect and expect the same.
inshallah
A great an exciting place to live. Not for the faint hearted. Seems any group of people belongi g to the right denomination can file a case. Now Nasrullahs well wishers can do so againsts his complainants, and then TIT for TAT to continue. In a very short time everyone will be an acussed and no one to try them !Start building lock ups or designate jails as free areas and the rest of the country can be called jail!
Does Blasphemy Law” is only to protect Islam and not any other religion or humanity?? What a shame and disgraceful law. God save Pakistan (if possible).
javed. what do you mean by (if possible). you dont sound muslim to me
and its not the law but the people who are trying to use it against each other.
The mobs ruled this country as there is no judicial system. We are all set to implode from within. Unless we rein in fanatical terrorists, chances of sanity are remote.
Am I right that by the current definition of this law and way it being implemented in Pakistan, anyone who stands for his/her own faith is a Blasphemer, by their definition being a non-Muslim is the blasphemy because you are not converting to Islam because you don’t believe in it, hence death is the only solution. Believe or die.
you are wrong. No Muslim, even the most ill-literate one is against non-Muslims or non-believers. I have not seen or heard a single incident of this. what is your basis of saying this. You probably just felt like saying a wrong thing today, didn’t you?
You are no different than those fundamentalists, just on the other side than them. Saying whatever that comes to your mind just to prove your point even if it is wrong.
I do agree that blasphemy is overly strict law that prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself would not have approved. Prophet Muhammad was a great guy. All those who talked against him eventually became Muslims with exception of few. I pray to Allah that He makes us understand the right Islam and not the Islam promoted by ill-literate Mullahs.
This was the case with Islam 600 years ago and will continue to be so, unless the voice of people like you is heard.
Looks like the end of civilisation in Pakistan. The few sane ones should pack their bags and leave now! (If any country allows them in that is…… something unlikely given the deteriorating reputation of the country)
all I can say is ‘shame’ on our pakistani society and the govt. – the world is laughing at us – in the west the local people are calling us crazy lots.
careful Mr. Gerry, perhaps they might even put you in trouble given your name suggest other than this fanatic lot.
True. There will be a rising tide of opinion to cut off all aid. The West cannot continue to help a society that promotes such savagery. The root cause is the blasphemy law and the ignorance it promotes in the streets. I used to think there was some hope for Pakistan, but now it’s fading. It hurts to have to say this.