FAISALABAD  -  Scholars and religious leaders have unanimously condemned the Khanewal lynching incident and termed it against the teachings of Islam and the Holy Quran. They said incident had damaged the soft image of the nation, and demanded to bring to justice those who were responsible for the incident. 

Delivering a sermon at Gol Masjid Ghulam Muhammad Abad Faisalabad in the backdrop of recent lynching incident in Talamba, district Khanewal, Molana Zahid Mehmood Qasmi, Chairman Markezi Ullema Council Pakistan strongly condemned the incident and that it was very unfortunate which had damaged the soft image of the country.  He said, “Though we are Muslims, but unfortunately, the people do not study Quran and Hadith due to which they often act upon wrongs”. 

He said that law enforcing departments existed in the country, but the people had lack of patience and endurance owing to which they did not hesitate from taking law into hands. He said that law and the constitution were existing in Pakistan. If anyone commits blasphemy, people should take them to task through law enforcing departments. 

He said that it was not right to take law into hands when the police, administration and government agencies were present to deal with matters of all kinds. In their presence, neither Islam nor Qur’an allow killing and manslaughter rather Qur’an says, “Whoever kills a believer intentionally, his punishment is Hell”.  In this regard, a unanimous national statement – Paigham-e-Pakistan - was signed by the scholars and religious leaders of all schools of thought. At the moment, this statement needs to be promoted at a large scale. 

It also needs to be implemented in true letter and spirit so that no one could dare to take the law into his own hands, he added. 

He said that sectarianism, extremism and terrorism, all these evils were not only detrimental but fatal also for the country. It is imperative to avoid these evils, he said. 

Ulema and sheikhs of all religious groups should come forward and play their dynamic role in eradicating narrow-mindedness and extremism from the society, he added.

Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi, ex-Member Council of Islamic Ideology and Mohtamim Jamia Naeemia Lahore also condemned Talamba Khanewal incident and demanded strict action against those involved in extra-judicial killing. 

He said that Khanewal incident was very tragic in which the mob after becoming ‘plaintiff and judge’ at their own brutally tortured and killed a mentally retarded person. 

“The incident is very embarrassing for Pakistanis and we need to learn from the previous incidents of such nature to ascertain that when it is not permissible for the public to take law into hand and be involved in killing or punishing anyone in any way. Why the people commit such offenses and what thing motivates them to do so”, he added. 

He said that law enforcing departments should also concentrate on how to stop the recurrence of such like incidents in future. 

The Ulema and Mashaikh as religious leaders must strongly condemn such incidents and reform and improve the attitude of general public so that they could avoid from such heinous crimes, he added. 

He appealed to the people to desist from doing such like barbaric acts because now all steps would be taken for punishment of those who were involved in such extra-judicial incidents. “May Allah Almighty guide us the right path and bestow us correct and true understanding of the religion”, he added.

Maulana Yaseen Zafar, General Secretary Wafaq-ul-Madaris al-Salafia Pakistan and Principal Jamia Salfia Faisalabad, condemned the Khanewal incident and said that it promoted bad image of the country at international level. 

He said that such incidents introduced a new culture of lynching in the country. The government and law enforcement agencies should take appropriate steps to control such incidents in future.

He also demanded deterrent punishment for those who were involved in Khanewal lynching incident. Allama Arif Wahidi, Vice President Shia Ulema Council, also condemned the Talamba, Khanewal incident and said that some elements still existed in Pakistan, who wanted to promote extremism in the country. 

The government should immediately take steps to control extremism in Pakistan so that Sialkot and Khanewal like incidents could not occur again, he added. Allama Zia Ullah Shah Bukhari, Amir Muttahida Jamiat Ahle Hadith Pakistan & Member Council of Islamic Ideology Pakistan, condemned the incident and said that the mob lynched a mentally retarded man by taking law into hands which was very condemnable. 

The government should take appropriate steps to control such brutal incidents in future; he said and also appealed to the general public to understand Islamic teachings before taking any step. 

Pir Syed Ali Raza Bukhari, ex-Minister Legislative Assembly AJK & Custodian Basahan Sharif Kahuta AJK, said that Islamic teachings did not allow such brutal acts at any cost. 

He said that law existed in Pakistan which could be used for punishment if anyone was found involved in any kind of blasphemy. 

He also stressed the need for promoting patience, brotherhood and harmony to develop a sound and healthy Islamic society.    

Allama Muhammad Amin Shahidi, Deputy General Secretary Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen, also strongly condemned the Khanewal lynching incident and demanded deterrent punishment for the perpetrated.