The “Sar tan se juda” mob comprising thousands is protesting in Pakistan against Supreme Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. Isa, who was appointed the Chief Justice of Pakistan in November last year has been facing death threats and protests since February this year after he ordered the release of a Ahmadiyya man Mubarak Sani. On the 29th of May, a three-judge bench including Chief Justice Isa, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan reserved its decision.
Mubarak Sani – ahmediya muslim of pakistan – was arrested for blasphemy. His crime – distributing pamphlets propagating ahmediya islam.
— Akshat Deora (@tigerAkD) August 19, 2024
supreme court of pak today said non-muslims (like ahemdiya muslims!!) have the right to do so.
Zombies attack pak sc. pic.twitter.com/QKRgK1xal3
The fresh protests erupted after the court on 24th July accepted the Punjab government’s plea alongside those of several Islamist organisations seeking a review of its February ruling and said that the right to profess religion and religious freedom, as ensured by the Constitution, is subject to law, morality and public order. A hearing on these pleas will be held on 22nd August.
Radical Islamists attacking #Pakistan #SupremeCourt as part of protest against Chief Justice #Qazi Faez Isa who has been accused of #blasphemy. These were the scenes a few hours back. It threatens to worsen. A reward of Rs 1 cr (Pakistani) has been announced for killing him. pic.twitter.com/gV0wh2D9N7
— Ajay Kaul (@AjayKauljourno) August 19, 2024
Why are the Islamic mobs demanding the resignation of the Chief Justice?
The protesting Islamists are demanding CJP Faez Isa’s resignation. On 19th August, a large number of protesters from various Islamist groups breached Islamabad’s highly secured, Red Zone storming the Supreme Court entrance gates to protest the Pakistan apex court verdict in the Mubarak Sani case.
In the February ruling, Justice Isa granted bail to Ahmadiyya man Mubarak Ahmad Sani who was accused of blasphemy in 2019 over distributing pamphlets promoting his religious beliefs. Sani was convicted under the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act, 2021, however, the 3-judge bench led by Justice Isa noted that Sani was charged for an offence not criminalised until 2021. Consequently, the top court granted bail to Sani and ordered his immediate release. Soon after, the TLP and other Islamists launched a hate campaign against Qazi Faez Isa. In Peshawar, around 3000 people blocked the roads in February and raised slogans like “Death to Qadianis” etc. The agitation of Islamists compelled the Supreme Court to issue a statement ‘defending’ its decision in the Mubarak Sani case.
TLP places bounty of 1 crore Pakistani Rupees on CJP’s head
Notably, the Islamist outfit Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has even placed a bounty of 1 crore Pakistani rupees on Judge Isa’s head. Pir Zaheerul Hasan Shah, the second top leader of TLP, placed this bounty.
“TLP aside, as a momin [faithful Muslim] and a slave of Prophet Muhammad, I announce in my capacity to give one crore [ten million] rupees to any person who beheads Faiz Isa who desecrated the law of the country, kicked the blood of 10,000 martyrs and permitted Marzai [Ahmadis] and hurt the feelings of Muslims,” Shah said in a rally.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar shared a video of Shah’s inflammatory remarks and said, “There is no room for such statements in the state of Pakistan and it will not be tolerated. Qazi Sahib did not give any decision in favor of any group or group. On the basis of which this hateful narrative is being propagated, we strongly condemn and strongly deny such statements, such mentality is causing serious damage to Pakistan. There are political motives behind this false narrative.”
ریاست پاکستان میں اِس قسم کے بیانات کی نا گنجائش ہے اور نا ہی اِسکو برداشت کیا جائے گا۔ قاضی صاحب نے کسی گروپ یا گروہ کے حق میں کوئی فیصلہ نہیں دیا ۔ جس کی بنیاد پر یہ نفرت انگیز بیانیہ پروان چڑھایا جا رہا ہے ، ایسے بیانات کی شدید مزمت کرتے ہیں اور سختی سے تردید کرتے ہیں ، ایسی… pic.twitter.com/s0fIPxjcMs
— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) July 28, 2024
Notably, Ahmadiyyas in Pakistan face severe persecution after the state formally designated them non-Muslims in 1974, and blasphemy laws are regularly used against them. Mubarak Sani’s release was deemed a violation of the religious beliefs held by Islamist outfits such as the TLP, which consider Ahmadiyyas heretics. OpIndia has often reported on the persecution of this group in Pakistan, which, ironically, was instrumental in the creation of Pakistan. Given the fact that the Pakistani Supreme Court is already on back foot, it will most likely reverse its order and incarcerate the accused Ahmadiyya man again.
It must be noted that blasphemy allegations have been used as a weapon by Islamists to attack people, especially non-Muslims in Pakistan. From Arabic calligraphy to QR-code, or the non-Muslims practicing their faith, anything can offend these Islamists who then resort to violent protests, giving ‘Sar tan se juda’ calls, mob lynching etc.
