Church attack: Clerics say Taliban portraying negative picture of Islam
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LAHORE: The stance of Pakistani Taliban militants regarding attacks on Christian churches was contrary to the teachings of Islam, leading Pakistani clerics belonging to different schools of thought said on Saturday.
“Taliban’s view point that attacks on churches is in line with the principles of Islam is totally wrong and against the teaching of Islam,” said the clerics in a joint-statement.
Taliban were depicting a negative picture of Islam just to defame the peaceful religion, they said.
The spokesperson for the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Shahidullah Shahid, had claimed that a recent attack on a church in Peshawar was carried out in accordance with Shariah laws and that neither the TTP nor any of its umbrella groups were behind the twin suicide blasts.
Nazim-i-Aala Jamia Naeemia Maulana Raghib Hussain Naeemi, Chief of Pakistan Sunny Tehrike Sarwat Ijaz Qadri, President National Mushaikh Council Pir Khawaja Ghulam Qutubuddin, President Khairul Ummam Foundation Pir Karamat Ali, Vice President Tahafuz Namoos-i-Rasalat Mahaz Allama Pir Atthar Qadri and President Islamic Research Council Pakistan were among those who issued the joint-statement.
September 23rd attack on All Saints church in the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, that killed more than 80 and injured at least 130, is believed to be the deadliest ever to target the country’s small Christian minority.
The Ulema urged the government to launch an operation against the terrorists who caused irreparable loss to both Islam and Pakistan. “They (Taliban) don't deserve any leniency,” said the statement.
The Pakistani government, however, was still keen to pursue dialogue with local Taliban militants despite a spate of bloody attacks in the country’s northwest, Sartaj Aziz, adviser on national security and foreign affairs to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday. He said talks should be given a chance.
The TTP, which has waged a bloody insurgency against the Pakistani state since 2007, has issued stringent conditions for its participation in talks, including the release of its cadres from jail, withdrawal of troops from the tribal areas along the Afghan border and an end to US drone strikes in Pakistan.
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Comments (41) Closed
Oct 05, 2013 09:35pm
Positive step - unfortunately many Imam's still preach hatred every week at the Mosque's - something that needs to be fixed.
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Oct 05, 2013 10:02pm
Wow! It took them many decades of monstrosity, many thousands dead, schools destroyed, children killed, and many innocents jailed and killed for blasphemy to realise that such extreme actions of Muslims actually damage their own religion. Mumtaz Qadri is still a hero for many, I reckon.
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Oct 05, 2013 10:18pm
Thank you to these Ulemas for speaking up. Staying quiet is not an option. TTP is simply a criminal gang and must be treated that way.
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Oct 05, 2013 10:44pm
oh! now they think, taliban r portraying negative picture of Islam, they have been doing this for several past years. and still our govt. want peace talk, how very sensible
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Oct 05, 2013 10:44pm
***Pakistani Mullao, nice talk, but why do not you ISSUE a FATWA against such killings?***
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Oct 05, 2013 10:55pm
I believe still portraying wrong image all Islamic clerics (if they are and they unite) and just separate themselves from Taliban and don't be biased to their deeds then these Taliban s will be left on no ones mercy. I thinks its these small segment of Mullahs (Aurang zeb farouqi and Tahir Ashrafi Brand) who does not want to actually operate against these Talibans and their sister academies.
For God sake please all Pakistanis please axe-out these hatred elements whether someone is muslim or non muslim or shia or sunni , let your faith be the best guidance for you not the path for violence and killings of fellow human beings.
God bless pakistan and Murdabaad Taliban
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Oct 05, 2013 11:08pm
First impression after looking at the the picture is that all the maluanas need to join Jenny Craig.
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Oct 05, 2013 11:07pm
We need to be careful people who are most effected shall be given a veto power to decide the future of Pak, TTP relations. I think its a pay back time for us,Pak. We shall give a second reading to our policies then shall come with some stronger decisions supported by national consensus. We must save our those countrymen who has gone Talibs only for our inhuman treatment in the Past, this refers to the stakeholders of Lal Masjid and Bajawar Madrassa etc. Military action shall be there but against those who are real insurgents.
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Oct 05, 2013 11:41pm
Kill each and every Taliban in Pakistan....All the Problem will be solved. Pakistan is a laughing stock on this planet because of these idiots. Come On....How long are we going to wait. But, it's not going to happen, as all the politicians and including ARMY is corrupt and selfish(These Days).
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Oct 06, 2013 12:26am
Taliban should rename themselves as 'Zalimaan'. May they burn in hell
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Oct 06, 2013 01:42am
clerics?why only talk about church attacks? so you mean the rest of the attacks are acceptable?
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Oct 06, 2013 02:45am
well said....mullahs finally saying something they should have said years ago....however, looking at these mullahs, leads me to think that they are to blame for the bad image of Islam....most of them look like taliban thugs....how can one confidence in this lot
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Oct 06, 2013 02:49am
No talks and dialoges with these extremists should be held. As it can be only held with civilized people. The writ of the state is being challenged so miltary operation is only solution. Those extremists need to be terminated then Pakistan will see day light of peace and prosparity. Otherwise, Pakistan is ruined for good.
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Oct 06, 2013 04:58am
Umnnn. There's quiet a bunch more where boom kaboom boom is goin on that does the same
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Oct 06, 2013 08:47am
High time , dear Ulemas,.. to save the reputation of your religion & your own credibility. This is a good beginning. There are many other things you have to condemn & many other issues that you need to be clear about. The nation is watching ...
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Oct 06, 2013 08:49am
Too late too little. Have these Mullahs been sleeping for all these years and just got a wakeup call? And what about issuing a decree against TTP's actions and declaring them non-Muslims? These Mullah's were the same who wasted no time in declaring the peaceful Ahmadi's non-Muslims but have not uttered a single word on the actions of TTP.
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Oct 06, 2013 10:37am
Incorrect rather misleading picture !
News report is about anti-Taliban Barelvi clerics wheres picture is of Deobandi clerics who support Taliban !
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Oct 06, 2013 10:56am
Taliban portraying negative picture of Islam it is also correct but Pakistan is also involved in this process.
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Oct 06, 2013 11:54am
Whatever they do is in accordance with the book.
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Oct 06, 2013 12:15pm
I pity all those muslims who have chosen such leaders (shown in the image) as their Pesh Imams (Prayer Leaders). What a pathetic followers most of us are ---- :(
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Oct 06, 2013 12:19pm
@expaki:
they already did. many times, since 2003.
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Oct 06, 2013 12:35pm
As a non muslim , I can say Muslims need to learn to respect other religions . Madrasa education has been used to fill hate in Muslims for other religions and same can be used to teach them to respect other religion
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Oct 06, 2013 12:35pm
These so called talibans know nothing about Islam. They are hardened criminals and should be dealt with accordingly. Islam is a religion of peace, Killing of innocent peoples & destroying their places of worship has never been allowed or followed in the past.
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Oct 06, 2013 12:57pm
Its good steps, our religious people should stand united against them ,please dont call them tahrik Pakistan talaban or give them importance to their statements & claims they are criminals
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Oct 06, 2013 01:02pm
The bombing was the work of the many foreign intelligence agencies operating in Pakistan. The Mossad ,Raw ,Cia and others are know for this modus operandi
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Oct 06, 2013 02:14pm
At lest now they know it, what others have known for ages - there aye darust aye.
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Oct 06, 2013 02:44pm
@unbelievable:
wish I could give you thumbs up thousand times
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Oct 06, 2013 03:43pm
as a non-muslim I think only the followers of 'islamic faith' practices 'hatred',enemity;killings whereever they are living - no other faith have these concept - how can we then say islam is a peaceful religion
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Oct 06, 2013 03:50pm
It is time for a fatwa against anyone who kills innocent people, a fatwa against anyone taking the law into their own hands. This should have happened years ago.
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Oct 06, 2013 03:52pm
@Syed Al -Hashmi:
People like you and your type of thinking who always never own up are the biggest problem for Ourbeloved country. How did you get Al-Hashmi as Pakistanis don't have family name as Al Hashmi.
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Oct 06, 2013 04:23pm
@Pramod :
Mr Pramod what you are saying is that Muslims are intolerant to other religion and religious Madarsass in Pakistan cultivate and promote this intolerance. In a political term it is a sweeping statement and best it is over generalization . Not all Muslims are intolerant as not all Hindus are intolerant. Yes some religious Madarsass in Pakistan do foster distorted and twisted beliefs which do not reflect the real teaching of the religion. All such seminaries should be put on state observation or shut down but this does not make all Muslims intolerant. Best comments are impartial and without bias.
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Oct 06, 2013 04:50pm
We Muslims tend to base our religion on what Mullahs say or what the Taliban say. It is no more on what the Quran says and what the "true" Hadiths say. And any person or group making any claim about what Islam says on the subject must be educated enough to provide the source. Anybody interested can then refer to it and arrive at his/her own conclusion or want to do further research. This is what the educated world does. The media, including Dawn must advise those making statements which the media intends to report to provide evidence/source for such statements. The Pakistani media needs to get more focused on tackling issues whereever and however it can. This is its moral and professional obligation.
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Oct 06, 2013 08:50pm
@Akram:
But you are sending your people do horrible things in other nations....that you call your religious duty. When others carry out their religious duty in your nation, you call it murder and you want to issue a FATWA. Why are Muslims such HYPOCRITES?
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Oct 06, 2013 08:52pm
@Syed Al -Hashmi:
Whe these very bombs went off in other nations, you called them your heros and soldiers of Allah.
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Oct 06, 2013 08:54pm
@Fawad:
Oh, they are criminal when they fight for their own thing in your country; but when they fight for you in another country, they are Mujahideen. Great going, Pakistanis!
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Oct 06, 2013 09:00pm
@Reasoner:
The father of Taliban, Sami Ul Haq, is in the middle.
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Oct 06, 2013 09:38pm
@Syed Al -Hashmi:
So, Mr. Hashmi you and your leadership and your securities agencies are incompetent. As per you every country and all the agencies of the world are destroying your country and your people for so many years and you guys are unable to stop them. Than you have no right to have a country let others take over at least your people will live in peace.
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Oct 06, 2013 09:39pm
Incompetent leadership and incompetent umma.
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Oct 07, 2013 07:44am
Pakistan should get rid of this mullahs with primitive outlook . They have no place in the modern world. Also Pakistan should be made a secular republic with freedom to practice any religion.
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Oct 07, 2013 07:32pm
@Akram:
There should be fatwa against people who issue fatwa
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Oct 08, 2013 07:00am
Pakistan need Kamaal Attaturk.
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