LAHORE – Speakers at the “Round Table Conference on Blasphemy by Facebook and Role of Muslim Youth”, held at the Hamdard Centre on Saturday, stressed that social media should be boycotted in the country for promoting activities that hurt Muslim sentiments.
At the conference which was held under the aegis of the Millat Facebook (MFB), participants voiced their views about the role of social media in the society and condemned the acts of some anchor persons who were lobbying for a change in Blasphemy laws of the country.
The conference was attended by people from all walks of like including Allama Khalil ur Rehman Qadri, Allama Ahmad Kasuri, Mufti Muhammad Khan Qadri, Azhar Siddique advocate, Ejaz Chaudhry, Admiral (R) Javed Iqbal and Umar Zaheer Mir. Speaking at the occasion, Allama Khalilur Rehman Qadri said: “Some circles within the country want the law be changed, claiming that the blasphemy law restricts the freedom of expression. However, I believe that law ensured respect of all religions and the prophets.”
Qadri went on to justify Articles B and C of Section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which were adopted in 1986 in the then military dictator Zia-ul-Haq’s regime. According to them, anyone who offends Islam and its prophet can be punished; in the case of an insult to the last Prophet Muhammad (SAWW), that can entail the death penalty. He said 964 people including Muslims, Christians, Ahmadis, Hindus and other religions have been charged between 1986 to date for desecrating the Quran or defaming the Prophet Muhammad (SAWW) but no one has been punished.
Another speaker at the event, Allama Ahmad Kasuri said “Love of Prophet is the soul of the Muslims”. He censured the people who criticized Mumtaz Qadri, quoting that a hypocrite who did not adore the decree issued by Muhammad (SAWW) was killed by Hazrat Umar (RA).
Also speaking at the occasion, Mufti Muhammad Khan Qadri said: “It is the need of the hour to sit together to answer the questions being raised by others. Islam protects the rights of all nations and ensures sanctity of all the human beings.”
While addressing the gathering, advocate Azhar Siddique said: “Some so-called politicians and intellectuals including Sheri Rehman, Najam Sethi, Imtiaz Alam and Hussain Haqani want to get the blasphemy law changed. But the lawyer’s community would fight a war against the blasphemers.”
Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf leaders Admiral (R) Javed Iqbal and Ejaz Chaudhary said that the young generation could become involved in resisting the threats placed by anti-Muslim elements on Facebook. Umar Zaheer Mir introduced social site named Millat Facebook and said that Muslims should use this as to interact with other Muslims on the social media. Participants of the conference also passed a resolution in favour of the blasphemy law and for boycotting Facebook.