Decision on Punjab govt review petition: Misinterpreting verdict falls under ‘Fasaad fil Arz’ category, says SC

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has held that the Constitution gives citizens the right to freedom of expression, but it could not be used to harm the greatness of Islam or the integrity of the country.

“Misinterpreting the decision and propagating it in wrong perspective does not serve the country and the nation, rather it falls under the category of ‘Fasaad fil Arz’ (corruption on earth), which is prohibited by Islam and even the Constitution and law does not allow such commotion,” says a press release issued by the SC public relations department on Friday.

The office stated that the Supreme Court gave a decision on Criminal Revision Application No2 of 2024 on July 24, 2024, adding that the verdict is written in Urdu so that even the common people can understand it easily.

It was further stated that in the judgment, it is clearly mentioned that no person can be a Muslim without absolute and unqualified faith in finality of Prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) and it is also clearly said that the two groups who call themselves Ahmadis are non-Muslims according to religion, Sharia, Constitution and law.

The press release further said that self-styled Ahmadis did not have the right to propagate their faith among Muslims in public or private, and while accepting the review petition of the Punjab government, this has been clarified in detail.

It was further stated that during the course of hearing of the review petition, the court sought guidance from the authoritative academic institutions of Pakistan and also provided an opportunity to individuals to give their written arguments in the court.

Similarly, the court also examined the proceedings of the committee of parliament and the committee members, including Mufti Mahmood Sahib, Maulana Zafar Ahmad Ansari Sahib, Maulana Abdul Haq Sahib, Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani Sahib, Maulana Abdul Mustafi Az Hari Sahib, Maulana Syed Muhammad Ali Rizvi Sahib, Maulana Sadr al-Shaheed Sahib, Maulana Nimatullah Sahib, Prof Ghafoor Ahmad Sahib and other eminent scholars also guided by the statements on record.

“In addition, the writings of Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maududi Sahib and other prominent scholars were also considered which is mentioned in the decision,” the press release stated.

It was further stated that in the judgment, the earlier decisions of the Federal Shariat Court and the Supreme Court were also followed. But baseless accusations are being made by such persons who did not appear for the assistance of the court despite being given several opportunities. They have now started levelling baseless allegations, giving their opinion, considering themselves more credible than the opinion expressed by scholars, which is very inappropriate.