Junaid Jamshed strikes the wrong chord
An FIR [First Information Report] has been lodged against singer-turned-preacher Junaid Jamshed in a Karachi police station on charges of blasphemy.
According to details, the District South Courts in Karachi ordered the Risala Police Station to register an FIR on the complaint of Pakistan Sunni Tehreek (PST) Rabita Committee member Mubeen Qadri. The FIR No. 234/2014 has been filed under Sections 295-C and 298-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
PST media coordinator Muhammad Faheem Qadri told Pakistan Today that according to “Shariah”, blasphemy was an “unforgiveable sin, punishable by death”.
“Former singer Junaid Jamshed has blasphemed against the Prophet (PBUH) and Umhat-ul-Momineen (mothers of the faithful). The government should arrest and punish him for the crime,” Faheem said, adding that the police was yet to move against the famous TV personality.
“It has been observed in the past as well that the government’s inaction gives rise to extremism. We have lodged an FIR against the blasphemer and now the government should initiate action so that no one else should dare take such a step again,” he said.
Meanwhile, the incident has sparked a debate on the application and handling of the blasphemy law by various religious schools across the country.
Only hours after the PST announced protests against the allegedly blasphemous comments about Hazrat Ayesha (RA) passed by Jamshed in a TV program, Tableeghi Jamaat senior cleric Maulana Tariq Jamil issued a video in which he distanced himself and his Jamaat from Jamshed’s act.
“To err is human and he [Jamshed] might have done it in ignorance and lack of knowledge. However, these are not the beliefs of either me or the Tableeghi Jamaat and no one should associate them with us,” Jameel said in the video footage.
PST’s Faheem however insisted that Jamshed is the media coordinator of the Tableeghi Jamaat and has been preaching their ideology for all these years.
However, Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Maulana Tahir Ashrafi said Jamshed has no connection with any religious organisation, including the Tableeghi Jamaat.
“I am in no place to issue a Fatwa (edict) against the accused, who has no doubt committed a mistake, for which he should apologise to the entire Ummah which is deeply hurt because of his remarks,” he said, adding that only a Mufti could pardon the accused.
However, there were huge protests against Jamshed even on Tuesday in various parts of the country despite the apology issued by him in a video message on the social media.
“I have committed a mistake out of ignorance. Anyone who disrespects the companions or Umhat-ul-Momineen is banished from the faith and I tender an apology to the entire Ummah for hurting their sentiments,” Jamshed, who was seemingly in tears said in his video message.
Following Jamshed’s apology, Jamia Binoria’s Mufti Naeem recorded his comments on the social media in a video message late Wednesday saying, “Everyone knows that he (Junaid Jamshed) is a man devoid of knowledge as he joined this line (preaching) after abandoning his music career. It is good however, that he abandoned that line (music). He committed a mistake and we, along with other ulema (scholars/clerics), brought the matter to light.”
“However, now he has repented and has apologised after joining his hands in front of the entire Ummah. Thus, no one should use this case to spread fitna (pugnacity) in Karachi and in our country. Anyone who uses this fitna to create a rift between sects is clearly showing that person’s jealousy against Junaid Jamshed. These times are full of fitna and we should stay clear of it,” he said while quoting a Quranic verse stating, “Verily, Allah loves those who repent”.
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