TLP’s Pir Zaheerul Hasan arrested for inciting violence against CJP

OKARA: Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Vice Emir Pir Zaheerul Hasan Shah has been arrested after he was booked for inciting violence against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, sources told Geo News.

The TLP leader was hiding at an unknown place in Okara, the sources added.

A First Information Report (FIR) was lodged in Lahore's Qila Gujjar Singh police station on behalf of Station House Officer (SHO) Hammad Hussain against Pir Zaheerul Hasan Shah and 1,500 party workers for issuing death threats to the chief justice.

The case refers to a speech made by Shah during a protest rally outside the Lahore Press Club during a demonstration against the SC verdict in the Mubarak Sani case.

The FIR includes provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and those related to spreading religious hatred and anarchy, pressuring and threatening the higher judiciary, interference in state affairs, obstructing in performance of legal duties and others.

It is to be noted that apart from TLP, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S), Mili Yakjehti Council Pakistan (MYC) and Wafaqul Madaris-ul-Arabiya (WMA) have also voiced their opposition to the apex court's verdict in the said case.

The opposition comes despite the clarification issued by the apex court on Friday which said that the court's verdict clearly states that no one can be a Muslim without having faith in the finality of prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Govt slams campaign against CJP

Meanwhile, the federal government on Monday said that it won't allow malicious propaganda against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and will take strict action against those responsible for it.

"The state will not allow anyone to issue a fatwa calling for someone's murder," Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said in a press conference in Islamabad.

Flanked by Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, the defence minister, while referring to the propaganda campaign hurled against the chief justice following the SC verdict in the Mubarak Sani case, said that an attempt is being made to use religion for bloodshed.

"There has been malicious propaganda about the chief justice and he has been targeted for a long time," said the federal minister.

He said that an attempt is being made to silence a voice which has set a tradition of speaking truth, reiterating that the law will take its course.

Asif further said that the state will now take action because CJP Isa has been targeted for a long time, adding that baseless accusations cannot be made against someone.

"There should be supremacy of Constitution in the country and justice should prevail. [The state] will not accept dictation aimed towards securing personal interests in the name of politics," he added.

The defence minister claimed that campaigns are launched against CJP Isa if a verdict is announced in someone's favour. "This trend should end," he maintained.

Asif stressed that the state cannot allow anyone to issue a fatwa to kill someone.

Meanwhile, terming the threats to the CJP as a "rebellion" against the country's Constitution, Planning Minister Iqbal said that no group is allowed to issue fatwas to kill someone.

"Terrorism, suicide attacks and fatwas have nothing to do with Islam [...] the government will not allow such attitudes to flourish and will take due action against them," the minister said.

Recalling his own 2018 assassination attempt, Iqbal lamented that PML-N leaders have often been targeted under the guise of religion for political agendas and said that no one would be allowed to use religion for inciting violence.

"Legal action will be taken against the person issuing threats [to CJP]," he remarked.

He also requested religious scholars to come forth and guide the nation.