KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan deputy chief Asadullah Bhutto Advocate has warned the Sindh government to revoke the anti-Islamic bill, otherwise, he said, adding that the Chief Minister House and the Sindh Assembly building would be cordoned off.
He was addressing a protest demonstration against the bill, held by Jamiat Ittehad-ul-Ulema outside the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday. A large number of religious clerics, besides people from all walks of life participated in the demonstration. The protesters, carrying placards and banners against the provincial government, chanted slogans against the bill.
Bhutto maintained that the bill passed in the pretext of rights of minorities, was an attempt to please the foreign handlers of the government as well as the anti-Islam elements.
He said that the bill is not against the basic rulings of Islam but is defying the Constitution of Pakistan. He warned that the movement against the bill would be escalated towards agitation.
The JI leader said that Pakistan was established on the basis of Islam. He was of the view that the passage of the bill was tantamount to betray the blood of martyrs of the Pakistan movement.
He said that the conditions of at least 18 years of age for acceptance of Islam and then taking the person into custody at a shelter for 21 days are absolutely rubbish and foolishness. He made it clear that the law would not be accepted.
JI Karachi chief Engr. Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman in his address urged provincial legislators to record their protest against the bill, if they have any ray of belief in Islam.
He said that the Constitution bestowed by the founder of Pakistan People Party Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto ensures that any law against Islam would not be made in the country. He added that unfortunately the party, itself, has been defying the Constitution and hence betraying their own founder.
The JI Karachi chief said that the bill was passed to gain political interests.
Molana Abdul Waheed said that the bill was a matter of grave concern for entire Muslim umma as there are a lot of examples where the Holy Prophet (SAW) himself encouraged teenagers to accept Islam. He also cited the examples of Hazrat Ali (RA), Hazrat Maaz (RA) and Maooz (RA).
