WILL THE REAL BLASPHEMY PLEASE STAND UP?

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/11/05/will-the-real-blasphemy-please-stand-up/

• What kind of government allows itself to be hamstrung and held hostage this way?

On 19 August 2014 Imran Khan was addressing a huge rally in Islamabad during the course of which he yelled — as he does — that the IMF and the World Bank should not give further loans to the then government of Pakistan. He threatened that if any loans were given they would be turned down. At another rally just before his party came into power he offered to do himself in if his government ever forgot itself so far as to seek such loans. Now, his government has done exactly that, and the gentleman continues amongst the living. You’d think experience would have taught him not to utter such words without thinking first. Obviously the words taste good, otherwise why make a habit of uttering them before turning around and eating them? But such forbearance takes foresight.

At his inauguration speech the PM made some very commendable remarks regarding the equality of all citizens, before appointing Atif Mian to the Economic Council a few days later. Very soon after he caved in to pressure — as he does — and took back the appointment because of Mian’s affiliation with a much persecuted group of citizens.

And there is Asia bibi. Most people breathed a sigh of relief when she left prison, and prayed that she and her family would leave the country as speedily as possible for their safety. The PMs most recent speech followed Asia Bibi’s acquittal. It was a firm speech, such as you can imagine a cricket captain delivering, saying that any member of his team caught ball tampering would be ousted from the team, end of story. He said no person could go against the writ of the State. If they did they would be dealt with sternly. Yet the bearded ones and their cohorts continued breaking, screaming, burning, beating, until the government went into a huddle with the rioters. As expected the PM did a U-Turn and ate his words. He’s getting adept at that.

So now we have Asia, a lady who spent many years in prison under a death sentence as a result of a questionable accusation from a questionable source, an accusation that was never proved. She was released from prison only to be placed on the exit control list. She is stuck in this country where she and her entire family are under imminent danger of being murdered by rabid sections of society. Whither firm moves?

A free citizen’s movements cannot be restricted without just cause, also by law. Asia and her family have not committed a crime so they cannot be placed on the ECL, by law

The group of persons implicated in the riots is the TLP a registered and recognised far right political party. The first mistake was of registering them. That was committed by the ECP. By negotiating with them not only has the PM gone back on his assurances but he has given such parties a boost, a power which tells then that if they break and burn and utter enough threats they can pretty much get whatever they want. Government, courts, laws, all be blowed.

What kind of government allows itself to be hamstrung and held hostage this way?

The government has caved in to the demands of a set of persons who has called for the murder of the Chief Justice of Pakistan among other violence.

Is the government aware that they have negotiated with a group of persons who have enough against them to place them in custody without further investigation, seeing that incitement to murder and violence is a crime, and is caught on video?

The government has also agreed to restart proceedings against Asia, when a verdict by the Supreme Court cannot be taken back to court by law.

A free citizen’s movements cannot be restricted without just cause, also by law. Asia and her family have not committed a crime so they cannot be placed on the ECL, by law.

One of the stated aims of the TLP is to confront and punish blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

So far, the only blasphemy has been committed by the TLP itself when it claims that its actions are sanctioned by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He was a man who believed in forgiveness, education, persuasion and peace. Witness the name Islam. If all else failed the Prophet (PBUH) was asked to say, “To you is your way, to me is mine,” and carry on with life.

To see the country’s elected government hijacked by a party based on violence is bad enough. To see one’s most beloved Prophet’s injunctions so trampled upon is quite another matter. He taught us to use force for a rightful cause only if there was no other means of defense possible. All of this has been violated here.

This, that is being shoved under our noses, is a caricature of Islam. Which then is the actual blasphemy?