Adil Najam
In an important development on the Gojra violence against a Christian community an anti-terrorist court has taken action and the judge sent 61 accused of the incident on judicial remand and six others were granted 14 days physical remand (that is, sent to jail).
The developments are still ongoing, the case is still pending, and there is talk of political motivations. Tension in the region, which was already high, has gone higher. But the fact that the court has taken criminal action against those who carried out such violence – murder and arson – is a good sign. The investigation of whether anyone had, in fact, desecrated the Quran still needs to be completed, but the fact that mob violence has been seen as exactly that – no matter what the cause – and is being dealt with by the court is a positive sign.
Emerging details, as reported in Dawn:
An anti-terrorism court judge sent 61 accused of the Gojra incident on judicial remand and granted 14 days physical remand of six others here on Friday. The Gojra Sadar police produced 48 accused in the court and sought physical remand of six for 20 days for seizure of weapons and looted belongings of Christians. However, the court granted 14 days remand and sent 42 accused on judicial remand.
The police are investigating the incident of Korian village in which scores of houses were set on fire by a mob on July 30 when they were informed that a few Christians had desecrated the Holy Quran. Gojra police produced 19 accused nominated in the supplementary statement. The police are still clueless about the accused named in the FIR who torched Christian’s homes in Gojra city on Saturday. Resultantly, seven people were burnt alive.
Meanwhile, some PML-N leaders of Gojra have condemned the arrests saying that those who have been implicated in the case (including politicians) are actually ‘peacemakers’ who tried to convince the Muslims to avoid the attack on Christians. At a press conference in Toba Tek Singh on Friday, they said that who instigated the people against Christians were enjoying immunity. The nominated accused in the FIR include politicians Malik Qadeer Awan, a PML-N city president and Jamaat-i-Islami (Gojra) leader Rehmatullah Arshad, who remained busy in making announcements in mosques to urge the citizens not to let loose their ire against Christians. They alleged that Awan had been made an accused in the FIR on the pressure of a former MNA of Gojra.
They said when the desecration of the Holy Quran took place at Chak 95-JB, the police arrested chief suspect Talib Masih but he was later released on the pressure of the MNA. The public got provoked on seeing Talib roaming around in the village and torched more than 100 houses, they said. Another reason that fanned the flame of Gojra violence was the shortage of policemen due to which Christians shot at and injured 13 Muslims (who are still under treatment), provoking the majority to retaliate. They demanded immediate withdrawal of a case against Qadeer Awan. Meanwhile, religious scholars hit out at the Gojra police for arresting hundreds of Muslims on the charges of involvement in Gojra violence. They took Friday sermons as an opportunity to vent their feelings, accusing the police of abusing power and trampling the sanctity of households during raids. They said the police had taken possession of hundreds of mobile phone sets and licenced arms during raids and detained scores of people at unknown places, inflicting physical and mental scars on them. They demanded immediate arrest of those who desecrated the Quran. The civil society in Gojra and Toba Tek Singh tehsils has planned to organise a solidarity conference to promote peace and harmony on Saturday (today) at Gojra bar room.
INQUIRY: Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman of the Lahore High Court recorded statements of 20 Christians on the second day of proceedings in the additional district and sessions judge’s court.
SECTION 144: District Nazim Chaudhry Abdul Sattar on Friday imposed Section 144 all over the district, barring assembly of five or more persons at a place. The order will remain operative till further instructions.
One hopes (but one does not hold one’s breath on it) that this will not be politicized any further. Right now, that seems unlikely, if not impossible.
One also hopes (but, again, one does not hold one’s breath on it) that the focus that has emerged from this horrific incident will make us all – including the courts, the parliament, the politicians and the citizenry – think hard and deep about the of the draconian laws and systems we have created. These laws bring out the worst tendencies in society and then allow the unjustifiable to be justified.
Unless a major national rethink happens on these issues, only worse will follow.
Mullahs now going after Ahmadis;
Police sacrilege Ahmadiyya Mosque and houses in Lathianwala
Faisalabad, Pakistan; Aug 10, 2009: Couple of days ago a case under anti-Ahmadiyya clauses (PPC 298) was registered by some activists of Sunni Tehreek against 32 Ahmadis accusing them of inscribing Holy scriptures at their houses and place of worship which allegedly hurt the feelings of complainants in village Lathianwala located some 25KM away from Faisalabad at Sheikhupura Road. Police at the behest of some bigots also added Blasphemy clause PPC 295-C (Use of derogatory remarks, etc; in respect of the Holy Prophet) to the FIR (First Information Report) which carries death penalty. At this outrageous act of Police a three member delegation of Ahmadis approached high ranking police officials to get the Blasphemy charges dropped and settle the matter peacefully without unjustifiably hurting innocent Ahmadis implicated in the case.
In the morning of August 10, 2009 around 300 strong contingent of Police, gathered from whole district, stormed the Mosque and 28 houses belonging to Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and removed Holy inscriptions, comprising Names of Allah and Kalima (Muslim creed) etc. According to reliable sources the terror and frightful operation continued for 8 hours. Police sacrilege was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Rai Muhammad Hussain and Station House Officer Mian Muuneer Ahmed of Police Station Khururianwala while the matter was still pending decision with high ranking police official Senior Superintendent of Police Kamran Yousuf. At the time of operation Ahmadiyya delegation was waiting for a meeting with Deputy Inspector General of Police.
Police used chisels, cement, paint etc to do this dreadful act of shameful sacrilege and removed every Arabic word they could find on Ahmadiyya Mosque and houses. It is worth noting that media was kept at distance thereby not allowing to cover this act. After what happened at Gojra and Mureedke last week; Police is still busy to appease the religious extremists and bigots. Religious minorities feel insecure and helpless in this hostile environment.
32 innocent Ahmadis still face the charges of anti-Ahmadiyya laws and Blasphemy, arrests and prosecution which may lead to from three years imprisonment to death.
I am more opptimistic than MQ. I hope that media and blogs and courts will keep this story alive and thugs will get punishment so that others thugs learn that they cannot get away with murder in the name of religion.
For those who cannot read or understand the couplet I quoted earlier, here is a loose translation:
Neither a plaintiff nor a witness; the case is closed
This was the blood of dust dwellers; in dust it disappeared
Faiz
More reactions from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “i donno how can u say those people muslim who did it , even if they were born muslims as all v are ,
bt they cant ever be called muslims even if they thought of doing , this barbarious act'”
– “Secular? The Time Is Not Far Until The Coming Of Imam Mehdi.
These Are All Fake Stories By Media To Discriminate Islam & Pakistan.
Those You Dont Fallow Quran & Sunna Aren’t Muslims Keep That In Your MIND!!!
Instead Of Comments & Having Brunch Do What Is Within Your Reach To Spread The Right Word Dont Expect The Government To Help You They All Are Fake Ups!
If You Fallow Media Then Nothing Good Comes From It!
Get Out Of Your Homes & Educate Others Instead Of Pointing Fingers.
Our Religion Never Preaches Us To Hurt Any Non Muslim By Even Words!
Its Not The First Story To Come Up To Media,And True Ones Are Unheard By Masses Due To Saturation of MEDIA!!!!! Asalamualaikum.”
– “lakum deenakum walia deen… respect others they will respect u.. we must give freedom of expression to everyone. blasphemy is something impossible.. we cant elevate or degrade the respect honor and status of Allah or Prophet (saw). if some act goes against our will we must deal it with patient killing is not a solution.. i would b happy if someone would tame salman rushdi rather than killing him”
– “It is a medial war – no doubt and they always look for the something to sell their word. Islam, Muslims = bad and that sells. However how much are we doing good & better?
Countries are mismanged, masses suppressed- be it lack of education, health or clean water issues,lack of energy and employment/opportunities, lack of freedom (modern slavery) and last but not least corruption…… r we doing any “amal” to avert the exploitation by any extremist -whatever religion or philosophy? Recently i read, Talibans are using children as weapons and imbibing their minds with anti PK sentiments- is PK going to be another Sierra Leone?
it is easier to judge with the keyboard at your fingertips, anyone with productive ideas for an “amal” against these miseries?”
– “We weren’t given Islam to keep in the mosques only.”
– “.. yeah you were given Islam to slit throats, persecute who dont believe what you do, burn other humans, drive planes in buildings”
– ” you’re right. Pakistani’s need to look at themselves and need to start following Islam the proper way without all the bidat / leniency etc. Pakistan also has many very good religious muslims though mashAllah and may Allah bless them. This is why we should aim to be what we want to see in our society- sahih Islam. Thats the only way we’ll get to see less of these events. inshAllah.”
– “why are we Pakistanis so paranoid about Hindu-America-Israeli axis ? Blame all our troubles on others – what I know is that the Gojra incident was done by PAKISTANIS in the name of religion – do you deny that ?? even if India is inflaming the Shia-Sunni strife then isnt there an inherent weakness that they are using? but you are right – even if we are very tolerant from religious point of view – we are still divided by Punjabi-Sindhi-Pathan divide .. or Arain-Gujjar-Qureshi-Siddiqui divide – or a million other matters that divide us”
– “first try to type one legible sentence .. secondly – again put the blame on everyone but yourselves .. so this is exactly what I mean – your version of Islam is the right one and all others are wrong and should burn in hell. Get out of this 10th century mindset – grow with the world”
– ” and i agree with you .. this is what is meant by secularism – secular thoughts .. stop thinking your idea is THE right idea and any one who doesnt agree with it needs to die .. tolerance, patience and fortitude .. doesnt Islam teach all that ?”
– “the bad news sells .. so why give bad news .. have you ever heard of Switzerland, or Sweden, or Lithuania, or Bhutan in news ?? cos they dont go around promoting insurgencies in their neighbouring countries .. they dont do evil things .. they dont even have an army .. and still they are the most prosperous, happy and content people”
– “but may I ask what is “sahih Islam” ???? has anyone ever thought about that ????”
For MQ:
I am less pessimistic than yo on this.
Khoon phir khoon hai, tapkay ga tou jamm jai ga!