Frontier Post Apologizes For Blasphemy.
nkdat...@my-deja.com
BBC News
Tuesday, 30 January, 2001, 10:34 GMT
Pakistan newspaper office attacked
The offices of a Pakistani newspaper have been attacked after it
published a letter alleged to be derogatory towards Islam.
Hundreds of Islamic protesters ransacked the offices of the English-
language Frontier Post newspaper in Peshawar, in the North West
Frontier Province.
On Monday, the Post's offices were sealed following the publication of
the letter which attacked the founder of Islam, the Prophet Mohammed.
Seven staff members, including two editors, were charged with
blasphemy - an offence punishable by death in Pakistan.
Student activists belonging to the hardline Islamic Jamaat-e-Islami
party stormed the newspaper building after gathering at a nearby mosque.
Newsprint rolls and machinery inside the premises were set on fire
while riot police watched.
"The press has been totally gutted," the AFP news agency quoted an
eyewitness as saying.
Students at the nearby Peshawar University also held demonstrations
against the newspaper and demanded its editors to be executed.
Roads were blocked and traffic diverted as the protesters marched
through the city, which is close to the Afghan border.
Apology
On Tuesday the Frontier Post carried large advertisements in national
dailies apologising for publishing the controversial letter.
"We once again beg pardon from the Muslim Ummah (nation) from the
depths of our heart," the advertisements said.
The paper said the letter was the outcome of a conspiracy against it as
well as the people and government of Pakistan.
The letter, apparently sent by e-mail from an unknown place, was headed
Why Muslims Hate Jews.
Peshawar's district magistrate issued a statement saying the letter was
highly objectionable and hurt the feelings of Muslims.
The Frontier Post's managing editor, Mahmood Afridi, said the
publication of the letter was a mistake which he regretted.
The country's military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, also condemned
the letter.
"The government will not allow publication of such objectionable
material," the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan quoted him as
saying.
Pakistan has extremely stringent blasphemy laws which mean if someone
is accused of blaspheming, the police are obliged to register a case
and make an arrest.
General Musharraf had said he would change the laws which human rights
workers said were used against religious minorities.
However, he later decided against this, apparently under pressure from
Islamic groups.
=========================
The News International, Karachi, Pakistan
Tuesday, January 30, 2001 -- Ziqa'ad 04,1421
CE condemns publication of blasphemous material
ISLAMABAD: Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf has taken a strong
notice and condemned the publication of outrageous and sacrilegious
letter in an English daily of Peshawar, which he said, had hurt the
sentiments and feelings of all the Muslims.
"The government will not allow publication of such objectionable
material," he said and added that stern action would be taken against
those responsible. The chief executive said that while the government
believed in complete freedom of the press, it could not allow the
publication of material, which was derogatory and sacrilegious in
nature.
General Musharraf expressed the hope that the members of the press
would understand and appreciate the application of relevant laws in
this particular incident and would join hands with the government in
maintaining a free press, which also takes full care of the religious
sentiments of the people.
===========
Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/
nkdat...@my-deja.com
Tuesday, January 30, 2001 -- Ziqa'ad 04,1421
Mob torches Frontier Post’s printing press
PESHAWAR: The printing press of the English daily newspaper, Frontier
Post, was set on fire on Tuesday morning, by a frenzied mob, protesting
the publication's alleged printing of blasphemous material.
The several hundred protestors, said to belong to the Jamaat-i-Islami
party, stormed the building housing the printing press and torched the
stock of newsprint and machines lying within. Witnesses said the
premises were totally gutted, adding the police, who had earlier sealed
the office, were present but did not intervene to prevent the rampage.
=====
Pakistan newspaper office attacked
Apology
=========================
nkdat...@my-deja.com
The News International, Karachi, Pakistan
Wednesday, January 31, 2001 -- Ziqa'ad 05,1421
Angry protesters torch FP press
Anti-blasphemy rallies staged in NWFP
By Rahimullah Yusufzai
PESHAWAR: The printing press of The Frontier Post was torched by angry
protesters here on Tuesday as protests against the publication of
blasphemous material by the English daily spread to other parts of the
North-West Frontier Province (NWFP).
Eyewitnesses said the protesters, mostly students of colleges and
Madressas, attacked the printing press and put the machines, newsprint
and everything in sight on fire. They also tore down the huge signboard
of the paper and made a bonfire. The fire-brigade was summoned to put
out the fire. Once the smoke became less intense one could see that the
printing machines had escaped major damage.
According to the eyewitnesses, the largely outnumbered policemen who
had been deployed at the adjacent main office of the daily made no
effort to stop the agitated young men. A police official, requesting
anonymity, said any effort to stop the protesters would have provoked
them further as the issue concerned religion and was emotive in nature.
An official press note said the attackers were part of a mob of about
1,000 people mostly belonging to the students wing of a religious
party. It said legal action was being initiated against
the 'miscreants'.
The Pakhtoon Students Federation affiliated with the Awami National
Party also brought out a big procession from the Peshawar University
and marched to the Press Club. However, they remained peaceful and
dispersed after apprising Peshawar's deputy commissioner Badshah Gul
Wazir of their demand that those responsible for blasphemy be severely
punished. The group also announced a reward of Rs two million for
anyone who murders the Jew, BenDZac, who e-mailed the blasphemous
letter to The Frontier Post.
Other processions in Peshawar were taken out by Jamiat Ittehad-ul-Ulema
and Pasban. As the offices and printing press of the daily were sealed
by the district administration on Monday. The Frontier Post failed to
appear for the first time in almost 15 years on Tuesday. Its sister
publication, Urdu daily Maidan, also didn't appear on Tuesday because
it shares the offices and press with The Frontier Post.
The senior government officials said technically The Frontier Post
hadn't been closed as its declaration wasn't cancelled. They said its
managing editor Mahmood Afridi had requested the government protection
even though he subsequently complained about sealing of the daily's
offices and press.
They added that the measures taken by the administration in Peshawar
were preventive in nature and were primarily aimed at defusing the
situation. On Tuesday, the NWFP government notified that all copies of
The Frontier Post issue of January 29 containing the derogatory,
sacrilegious and blasphemous letter, which injured the religious
feelings of the Muslims, shall stand forfeited with immediate effect.
It also announced forfeiture of all copies of the said letter along
with its translation in any language and manner. The action was taken
under Section 99-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.
Meanwhile, the Peshawar police obtained a two-day physical remand of
the five Frontier Post staffers from a sessions court. A police
official claimed the five men were separately produced in the court for
security reasons. However, reporters said they were at a loss to
understand as to when the four detained journalists and one other
staffer were brought there.
The five include the paper's news editor Aftab Ahmad, chief reporter
Imtiaz Hussain, features writer Kazi Ghulam Sarwar, sub-editor Munawar
Mohsin and computer section incharge Wajeehul Hasan. They were booked
under Section 295 A, B, C /505 of PPC and 16 MPO.
Under Section 295 C, commonly called Blasphemy Law, offenders are
liable to be awarded capital punishment or life imprisonment as well as
fine. A Chowkidar of the paper was also detained for keeping an
unlicensed Kalashnikov rifle.
Also charged were The Frontier Post managing editor Mahmood Afridi, who
was in Islamabad on Monday when his paper published the blasphemous
letter, and its Lahore-based joint editor Jawed Nazir. They haven't
been arrested yet although the Peshawar police said they were looking
for them. Afridi's father Rahmat Shah Afridi, who is the paper's
founder and editor-in-chief, is in jail since 1999 on drug-trafficking
charges.
========
nkdat...@my-deja.com
31 January 2001 Wednesday 05 Ziqa'ad 1421
Peshawar newspaper press set ablaze
By Mohammed Riaz
PESHAWAR, Jan 30: Angry protesters on Tuesday attacked the office of the
daily Frontier Post and set ablaze the printing machinery. The fire
gutted the machinery, newsprint rolls as well as other printing material
kept in the building.
Despite the presence of police personnel posted at the newspaper office,
no efforts were made to prevent the mob which walked away after
ransacking the office and burnt the printing press, housed in a nearby
building.
The fire, which continued for several hours, turned everything into
ashes.
Various students organizations also held demonstrations to protest
against the publication of blasphemous material in the newspaper.
Students started their rally from Peshawar University and after marching
through city streets they gathered at the Hayat Shaheed Chowk near the
US Consulate, where the rally was diverted by the police to Saddar.
Heavy contingents of police were deployed on all roads and bylanes
leading towards the US Consulate. After marching through Saddar streets,
the slogan-chanting students gathered outside the Governor's House where
the rally was addressed by their leaders who demanded of the government
to award exemplary punishment to the newspaper management. Although,
most of the students later dispersed peacefully, a group of students
carrying batons entered the Peshawar Press Club and damaged signboards.
Leaders of various religious parties also held a meeting at Madni mosque
in Namakmandi. The also took out a procession from the mosque under the
leadership of Maulana Abdul Malik of the Islami Muttahida Mahaz, and
marched up to the Qisa Khawani Chowk.
Speaking at the rally, the religious leaders asked the local businessmen
and shopkeepers to observe a strike against the newspaper on Wednesday.
They said that they would take out a protest procession on Wednesday and
warned the government to stay away from their protest as it was a
religious matter and not a political issue.
They also asked the government to release those staffers who had no hand
in the policy matter of the newspaper.
Some activists of the religious organizations also distributed
photocopies of the English and Urdu version of the sacrilegious material
carried by the newspaper on on Tuesday.
The police also raided the hostel of the Agriculture University
Peshawar, and seized objectionable booklets containing sacrilegious
material. It was a move to spark off sectarian clashes in the already
tense situation, said a senior police official.
Reliable sources told Dawn that the government was considering referring
this case to a speedy trial court to ease off the tension.
A group of six lawyers have announced that they would assist the
prosecution against the culprits involved in the blasphemy case.
Earlier in the day the police produced the five employees of the
newspaper in a local court for their custody.
The management of The Frontier Post shifted its computer section and
library to another building as the present offices had become easy
target for protesters.
The management has also filed an application with the police against its
two employees, holding them responsible for the crisis. One of them
Munawwar Mohsan, a Bengali national, is the in-charge of the letter's
page.
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has
appreciated the timely action taken by the government against the
newspaper and asked the administration to release all those who were not
involved in this sorrowful act.
COPIES FORFEITED: The provincial government on Tuesday forfeited the
Frontier Post's issue of Jan 29, which contained a sacrilegious letter
and hurt feelings of Muslims.
A statement issued by the Home and Tribal Affairs Department said: "The
contents of letter are liable to forfeiture under Section 99-A of the
CrPC 1898. All copies of the said letter along with their translation in
any language and in any manner, shall stand forfeited to government
with immediate effect".
PRESS NOTE: The District Magistrate, Peshawar, has issued the following
press note late Tuesday evening.
"In order to express their anger against the English daily Frontier Post
for publishing a letter containing highly blasphemous material in its
issue, dated Jan 29, today (Jan 30), a mob of about 1,000 people, mostly
students of a religious party, gathered in front of Takhto Jumaat of
Peshawar Cantt. They held a protest meeting there and marched towards
Frontier Post's press section where they became unruly and put the press
on fire. Necessary legal action is being initiated separately against
the miscreants.
"Another procession of about 1,000 people came out from Peshawar
University, blocked Jamrud Road near Speen Jumaat for about half an hour
and then marched towards Peshawar Cantt. At Peshawar Cantt they gathered
at the Press Club, where they were addressed by the deputy commissioner
and apprised of the closure of the newspaper and registration of a case
under the blasphemy law and arrest of the staff of the paper. They felt
appeased and dispersed peacefully.
"About 60/70 Ulema came out on road in front of Karkhano Market. They
remained on the road for about half an hour and dispersed peacefully
after knowing about the action already taken by the government against
the newspaper. Similarly, a group of Ulema belonging to a religious
party met at the Madni mosque, Namak Mandi. The city magistrate reached
there and addressed them. They, who were about 70/80, peacefully marched
towards Shahidano Chowk, Qisa Khawani Bazaar, expressed their sentiments
against the newspaper and dispersed peacefully.
"While the provincial government is fully conscious of the religious
sentiments of the people, it has at the same time, responsibility to
maintain the law and order and prevent any loss to life and property of
the people. The action already taken by the government against the paper
is cognizance of the fact that the government is fully alive to deal
with any blasphemous act against the holy personalities of Islam.
Governor's directive
Bureau Report
PESHAWAR, Jan 30: NWFP Governor Lt-Gen Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has
directed the Home and Tribal Affairs Secretary to ensure that
investigation into the Frontier Post case is completed as early as
possible.
The police registered an FIR on Jan 29 against the management of the
Frontier Post.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the governor hoped that once the
challan is submitted in the court, expeditious judgment would be given.
============
nkdat...@my-deja.com
DAWN, Karachi, Pakistan
31 January 2001 Wednesday 05 Ziqa'ad 1421
EDITORIAL
Mistake or deliberate mischief?
SHOULDN'T we learn to distinguish between an honest mistake and a foul
piece of work intentionally undertaken? Or is that too much to ask of a
nation where emotion often outstrips calm consideration? On the pages of
The Frontier Post has appeared a letter so blatantly sacrilegious that
every Muslim, and who knows even people of other faiths, would be
touched by a sense of outrage. But even amidst the anger is it not
proper to ask whether this piece got published through an oversight or
whether the intention was to create mischief? The latter possibility is
not easy to countenance because we all know that, while anything is
possible in this country real or even perceived, blasphemy is not. We
are not perfect Muslims and in our conduct there is much left to be
desired but disrespect towards the Holy Prophet (pbuh) is one thing no
Muslim living in Pakistan will ever tolerate. The Frontier Post itself
has been the first to recognize its grievous error and in fulsome terms
has begged forgiveness for it. Should the matter not then have been
investigated first, to ascertain whether there was anything mala fide or
deliberate in the offending letter, before arriving at any conclusion?
But the administration has closed The Frontier Post and arrested several
of its staffers under the blasphemy law. Filing a case was the proper
thing to do. It should have been followed by a swift investigation and
then the filing of charges before an appropriate court. This would have
been due process. Closing down the newspaper at once seems not to fall
within the meaning of this term. It does not take much to figure out
what must have prompted the administration to take the steps it has. It
is fair to assume it wanted to pre-empt any public demonstration of
anger. Also, it must have wanted to avoid the charge of slackness. Even
so, whatever action it thought proper should have fitted and not
exceeded the law. As it is, public anger has scarcely been pre-empted
with mobs in Peshawar taking to the streets and burning down the offices
of The Frontier Post. Should not the administration have prevented this
from happening?
The Frontier Post is certainly not free of blame. Newspapers are not
infallible and often make stupid and serious mistakes. But it must have
been oversight of an extraordinary kind which allowed such a letter to
be published. All the same, we must learn to be a bit more mature about
our faith. Islam is not a passing phenomenon or a thing of straw to be
broken by rude words. It is a living faith beyond calumny or the
utterances of small men and something which will endure till the end of
time. Let us therefore not be so defensive about it and go on the
rampage at the first hint of disrespect towards it. This does not mean
turning a blind eye to blasphemy. Certainly anyone guilty of it should
be punished according to the law. But between this and events in
Peshawar
Shomir
posted by the Front Post? I would like to see what triggered such a mob
uprising.
Shomir
========================
nkdat...@my-deja.com wrote:
> DAWN, Karachi, Pakistan
> 31 January 2001 Wednesday 05 Ziqa'ad 1421
>
> Peshawar newspaper press set ablaze
> By Mohammed Riaz
>
> PESHAWAR, Jan 30: Angry protesters on Tuesday attacked the office of the
> daily Frontier Post and set ablaze the printing machinery. The fire
> gutted the machinery, newsprint rolls as well as other printing material
> kept in the building.
................. rest deleted for bandwidth considerations
nkdat...@my-deja.com
Shomir <sho...@My-dejanews.com> wrote:
> Mr. Datta, do you know what was the contents of original letter that
was
> posted by the Front Post? I would like to see what triggered such a
mob
> uprising.
>
> Shomir
>
I yhink the letter is no longer viewable
on Frontier Post website (www.frontierpost.com.pk).
But I found this version in a related post on SCP:
In article <9546av$jp$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
Mo <mo2...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Frontier Post, Peshawar, Pakistan
> Why Muslims hate Jews?
> Updated on 1/29/2001 10:15:30 AM
>
> Send this Article to your friend
> Printer-Friendly Version!!!
> Post your Comments
>
> In order to understand the continuous hate history of the Muslims
> forJews through the present day violent hate for the Jews, one has to
> understand the theological roots of Muslim anti-semitism that is
> enshrined in the Koran.
>
> Only then can one understand how false are the claims that prior to
> Zionism, Jews and Muslims lived in harmony, that neither Islam nor
> Muslims harbored any hate for the Jews.
>
> The creation of the Jewish state in no way created Muslim hatred for
> Jews.
>
> It merely intensified it and gave it new focus.
>
> So long as Jews acknowledged their inferior status among Muslims, they
> wre allowed to exist under humiliation.
>
> But once the Jews succeeded in getting rid of their inferior status,
in
> becoming a sovereign state after centuries of servitude, and even to
> govern some Muslims as is happening in Israel where there are some
800,
> 000 Muslims under Jewish rule.
>
> the existence of Jews and Israel was no longer acceptable to the
> Muslims.
>
> The passionate hatred for Israel and Jews is a hatred that entirely
> transcends political antagonisms.
>
> It was put in place by Muhammad who claimed to be a prophet of God.
>
> His hatred for Jews was caused by their refulsal to accept him as a
> prophet because of his low moral character and his lack of knowledge
of
> the scripture and his murderous ways.
>
> It is this non-acceptance by the Jews that made him murder thousands
of
> innocent Jews in Arabia and drive the rest away.
>
> Jews were a significant minority, perhaps as high as 40%, in northern
> present day Saudi Arabia.
>
> He also wanted their lands, wealth and their women.
>
> It is the hatred that he deified that bring forth the repeated Muslim
> calls not for just a defeat of Israel but for its annihilation.
>
> As so often in Jewish history it is the Jewish nation’s existence that
> arouses the Muslim hatred and their passion to end the Jewish state.
>
> The Muslim claim that the issue is anti-Zionism rather than anti-
> Semitism really means that so long as the Jews adhere to their
inferior
> dhimmi status and do not express the national component of Judaism,
> their existence as individuals is acceptable.
>
> But for Jews to aspire to equality among Muslims, for a Jew to aspire
> to a status higher than “ humiliation and wretechedess stamped upon
> their foreheads” as the Koran puts it, is to aspire too high.
>
> Muhammad repeatedly came up with suras to justify his evil acts
against
> the Jews.
>
> When he murdered the Jews of Banu Qurayza (800 in one evening as
> narrated by Ibn Ishaq) he came up with a sura justifying the act, the
> first holocaust against Jews.
>
> What is worse he claimed the revelation to be from the Almighty—-
> blasphemy of the highest order.
>
> Indeed Muhammad was the first nazi.
>
> That was his style.
>
> Claiming to get revelations in order to satisfy his political or
> personal agenda or his libido.
>
> When he wanted to take on more than the four wives he had allowed
> Muslims he came up with a sura allowing him to take as many wives as
he
> pleased.
>
> Total dishonesty.
>
> Unabashed male chauvinism.
>
> I would not care how many women he bedded and how many times he lied
> about getting revelations.
>
> What I object to is that Muhammad stamped hatred for Jews permanently
> into Muslim minds.
>
> Muslim children from day one have the Koran recited into their ears,
> hate for Jews drilled into their minds.
>
> Anwar Sadat signed a peace treaty with Israel.
>
> Here is what he told his troops in 1972: “ The most splendid thing our
> Prophet Muhammad , God’s peace and blessings be upon him, did was to
> evict the Jews from the entire Arabian peninsula.
>
> I pledge to you that we will celebrate on our next anniversary, God
> willing and in this place with God’s help, not only the liberation of
> our lands ( meaning Palestine including Israel) but also the defeat of
> Israeli conceit and arrogance so that they must return once again to
> the condition decreed in our Holy Book, humiliation and wretchedness
> stamped upon them.
>
> We will not renounce this.” The last was inspired by sura 2:61 in the
> Koran.
>
> “And humiliation and wretchedness were stamped upon them (meaning the
> Jews) and they were visited with the wrath of Allah.
>
> That was because they disbelieved in Allah’s revelations and slew the
> prophets wrongfully .That was for their disobedience and
> transgression.” To this day this hate filled verse describing Jews,
> written in the seventh century Arabia, has been cited again and again
> by Muslims to justify their atrocities against the Jews.
>
> ========================
>
>
> > DAWN, Karachi, Pakistan
> > 31 January 2001 Wednesday 05 Ziqa'ad 1421
> >
> > Peshawar newspaper press set ablaze
> > By Mohammed Riaz
> >
> > PESHAWAR, Jan 30: Angry protesters on Tuesday attacked the office
of the
> > daily Frontier Post and set ablaze the printing machinery. The fire
> > gutted the machinery, newsprint rolls as well as other printing
material
> > kept in the building.
>
> ................. rest deleted for bandwidth considerations
>
>
nkdat...@my-deja.com
BBC News
Wednesday, 31 January, 2001, 16:01 GMT
Riots over Pakistan 'blasphemy' letter
Islamic students have gone on a rampage in Pakistan over an allegedly
blasphemous letter published in a newspaper on Monday.
The students, belonging to the hardline Islamic Jamaat-e-Islami party,
burned down a cinema and rioted on the streets of Peshawar, close to
the Afghan border.
The offices of the Frontier Post newspaper were set on fire on Tuesday
in anger over the letter, which criticised the Prophet Mohammad's
dealing's with Jews nearly 14 centuries ago.
The country's military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, has now ordered
a judicial inquiry to identify those responsible for the letter.
Riot
Hundreds of Islamic students blocked roads and then attacked the cinema
which they consider to be "un-Islamic".
Reports say they ripped out seats and destroyed the screen and
projecting equipment, before setting the theatre on fire.
Police fired teargas and used batons to disperse the rioters.
One report said the mob blocked the main highway leading from Peshawar
to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, and forced several schools to
close.
They chanted slogans such as "hang the culprits" and "blasphemy not
allowed".
In a statement on Wednesday, General Musharraf appealed for calm and
said the government "would not let the culprits go unpunished".
Controversy
Religious parties in Pakistan have been angered by the publication of
the letter - apparently sent by e-mail - headed Why Muslims Hate Jews.
They said the letter attacked the founder of Islam, the Prophet
Mohammad.
Following its publication, seven staff members of the paper, including
two editors, were charged with blasphemy - an offence punishable by
death in Pakistan.
The Frontier Post has since publicly apologised for publishing the
letter which, they said, was part of a conspiracy against the paper and
the people of Pakistan.
The editor said he suspected two disgruntled staff members may have
inserted the letter in the newspaper to harm it.
Pakistan's independent Human Rights Commission has condemned the letter
but said the government needed to take a stand against the riots.
"When all is said and done, it is for the administration and the courts
to determine the action that needs to be taken," the Commission said.
Under Pakistani law, if anyone is accused of blasphemy, the police are
obliged to register a case and make an arrest.
nkdat...@my-deja.com
The News International, Karachi, Pakistan
Thursday, February 01, 2001 -- Ziqa'ad 06,1421
EDITORIAL
A tragedy's tragic consequences
By being led by raw emotion, whose outburst is understandable, and by
not dispassionately sensing the motif of the letter, we are only
weakening
ourselves, and strengthening our enemies
The expected reaction to the publication of a blasphemous letter that
got into the Frontier Post, a Peshawar-based daily, has led to the
destruction of the printing press of the publication, that was set
ablaze by angry protesters who carried out this action in the presence
of the police. It is clear that the emotions are running so high that
the apologies and explanations from the owners of the newspaper have
had no impact. The authorities, the Home Department and even the
military, seem to have also been put on the backfoot by the backlash
that has swept the entire country, but is particularly strong in the
NWFP.
This is a very delicate situation and is apt to take more turns for the
worst if not handled carefully. Already the international bodies are
using the sad happenings as a measure of instability in the country.
Others are putting these in the framework of human rights. The letter
to the chief executive by Amnesty International is a case in point.
There cannot be two opinions about the fact that the publication of the
letter is as unfortunate, sad, and serious as anything can be in a
Muslim country. The contents of the letter are a typical creation of
unhinged minds who derive perverse pleasure from such evil and vain
indulgences. It can also be part of a larger conspiracy to breed feud
and cause chaos in a country where religion has acquired a new
centrality to social discourse, political issues and government policy.
The matter is being investigated and it is important that proceedings
of the case are made transparent so that the public that is rightly
incensed and outraged, and whose most delicate sensibilities have been
hurt, remains in the picture.
It was these aspects in mind that the owners of the publication had
tendered an unqualified apology taking the plea that they were a victim
of a deep plot meant to force a close-down of the paper. Investigations
will determine the truth of that matter, but a general point can be
made that no one in his right mind and knowingly, let a blunder of this
nature take place. Therefore, it is safe to speculate that there have
to be exceptional circumstances that led to the letter's publication.
While there is no redemption for an egregious mistake like this, nor
ignorance or sloppiness can ever be held forth as an explanation, it is
important that the issue must not be politicised or categorised as a
case of abused freedom of the press. There are lobbies who would want
to exploit the regrettable occurrence to their advantage or generalise
this happening to derive sweeping but erroneous conclusions about the
press. That will not be correct. Nor will be the move to start a debate
on how the freedom of the press has to be regulated. This incident has
nothing to do with the freedom of expression; in fact is a total
negation of the whole concept that is useful only when it recognises
the difference between the sacred and the profane.
What is really needed is for the media industry to strengthen its
professional guard against such incendiary material, which, the readers
must be informed, is circulating in the information market in strange
disguises, but is always trashed through a careful process of vetting --
something which did not happen in this particular case. The attempt
ought to be to ensure that this worst-case scenario is not repeated in
any other form, anywhere else, ever.
The responsibility of the society at large in dealing with such mishaps
is also huge. The expression of hurt sentiments ought to be informed
with the sobering thought that the evil mind that planted this sorry
seed would have wanted it to sprout precisely along the lines that it
has -- more ruckus and ructions making Pakistan more vulnerable, more
unstable and earning a bad international name. It is our abiding,
unbending faith that the person of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) will remain
unblemished for so complete and pure is his personality. Just as strong
is our belief that his detractors will forever remain without peace and
will perish in their own pettiness. By being led by raw emotion, whose
outburst is understandable, and by not dispassionately sensing the
motif of the letter, we are only weakening ourselves, and strengthening
our enemies.
===============
The News International, Karachi, Pakistan
Thursday, February 01, 2001 -- Ziqa'ad 06,1421
Judges to probe publication of blasphemous letter
Cabinet urges to public to remain peaceful; expresses sorrow over
Ahmedabad quake; approves agreement with Hubco; appreciates loan
rescheduling
By Shakil Shaikh and
Sohail Iqbal
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Wednesday decided to appoint a
judicial commission to probe into the publication of a blasphemous
letter in a Peshawar-based English daily, said an official announcement
here.
The cabinet meeting , presided over by Chief Executive General Pervez
Musharraf, condemned in strongest words the publication of blasphemous
material in The Frontier Post, the printing press of which was torched
by angry protesters on Tuesday. The blasphemous letter was published in
Monday's issue of the paper.
"This is totally unacceptable," Chief Executive General Musharraf told
the cabinet while expressing his strong condemnation of the blasphemous
letter. "The action will be taken as per law, but I condemn the
publication of such a material," General Musharraf added.
The announcement said the cabinet also appealed to the people to remain
peaceful as the government was fully alive to the situation and would
not let the culprits go unpunished. A senior official said the judicial
commission will be set up by the provincial government of NWFP and the
announcement will be made in a couple of days.
The NWFP government had arrested five people and the Peshawar police
took two-day remand of these people. They were booked under the
relevant law. The offenders are liable to be awarded capital punishment
or life imprisonment as well as fine. The cabinet advised the people
not to take the law in their hands and assured that the culprits would
get the punishment, said the senior official.
The cabinet expressed deep sorrow at the loss of life and property
caused by the devastating earthquake in India and Pakistan. General
Musharraf described it as a great human tragedy for India and thanked
Allah for sparing Pakistan with only minor losses. He extended his
heartfelt sympathies to the people of India in their hour of grief.
Pakistan has despatched two planes loaded with relief goods to
Ahmedabad and one more will be sent today.
The cabinet approved the Hub Power Company (Hubco) settlement agreement
signed between the government of Pakistan, Wapda and Hubco last
December, said the announcement. The meeting observed the agreement is
a positive development which reduces Hubco receivables by $ 63 million
annually and the government will save Rs. 4 billion in foreign exchange
every year. The agreement also re-opens doors for foreign investment in
the country, the announcement added.
Secretary-General Finance Moin Afzal briefed the cabinet on meeting of
the finance minister and his team with the Paris Club held recently. He
informed the meeting that Pakistan had successfully negotiated the
rescheduling of $ 1.8 billion loans with the members of the Paris Club.
Afzal said there was broad-based appreciation of the government's
economic revival
programme by the Paris Club member countries. Chief Executive General
Musharraf said it was a proof of the policy and perception of the
government and the brilliance of the government economic team. He
appreciated the team work and spirit of all its members.
"The governors also appreciated the expenditure control mechanism and
reduced borrowing being pursued by Pakistan. The Club members
appreciated the overall performance of the government during last
year," said an official announcement.
The chief executive observed that recently elected representatives at
Union Council levels should be motivated to join the process of
development and participate in nation building efforts. The elected
representatives at grass root level can play an effective role in
creating unity, sectarian harmony, promoting an atmosphere of tolerance
and in curbing extremism and sectarianism in our society, he said.
The chief executive said the devolution plan, when implemented, would
revolutionize the entire society as the new system would inculcate
confidence and spirit of leadership and service in the elected
representatives at grass root level.
The meeting reviewed implementation of the decisions of the cabinet and
the chief executive's directives by the ministry of local government,
environment and rural development. The cabinet approved a proposal of
the environment ministry for Accession to Kyoto Protocol to the UN
Frame-work Convention on Climate Change to demonstrate Pakistan's
continued commitment to the protection and preservation of global
environment.
The cabinet approved signing of a new air services agreement between
Pakistan and Switzerland. The agreement provides more freedom in terms
of flight operation between Pakistan and Switzerland.
In another decision, the cabinet extended the last date of
demonetization of Re. 1/- and Rs. 2/- currency note to December 31,
2001. It also approved minting of Rs. 5/- coins from December 31, 2001.
The cabinet approved adoption of the International Convention for the
Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The accession of the protocol will
facilitate Pakistani flagships to reduce commercial time lost and extra
expenditure when engaged in international trade and when visiting ports
of the states having adopted SOLAS Protocol 1988. Interior Minister
Moinuddin Haider said the government strongly condemns the publication
of the sacrilegious and blasphemous letter in The Frontier Post. The
commission would identify those responsible for the publication of this
letter so that they could be expeditiously punished according to law,
he added.
Moin, in his statement, called upon Ulema and religious scholars to ask
the public to remain peaceful as the government was fully alive to the
situation and would not let the culprits go unpunished.
He said by agitating, the people would in fact be playing into the
hands of those anti-state elements who would like to create discord and
unrest in Pakistan. He said the government cannot and will not allow
anybody to play with the religious beliefs and sentiments of the people
of this country and those responsible for the act of blasphemy shall be
dealt with sternly as per applicable laws.
At the same time, the government shall not allow the vested interests
to exploit the situation to create unrest in the country, he added.
Moin said while the government protects, promotes and preserves the
freedom of the press, it is also the responsibility of the National
press to remain vigilant to curb the efforts of anti-national elements
who try to create such situations which can ignite the religious
sentiments. In this regard, he welcomed the statements of the CPNE and
APNS who have strongly condemned publication of the blasphemous letter.
Moin said the government is against all forms of extremism and believes
in promoting tolerance and harmony in the society. He called upon the
people to remain peaceful to foil the designs of those who intend to
create disharmony and disturbance by publishing such a sacrilegious
letter.
===============
BBC News
Wednesday, 31 January, 2001, 16:01 GMT
Riots over Pakistan 'blasphemy' letter
Islamic students have gone on a rampage in Pakistan over an allegedly
blasphemous letter published in a newspaper on Monday.
The students, belonging to the hardline Islamic Jamaat-e-Islami party,
burned down a cinema and rioted on the streets of Peshawar, close to
the Afghan border.
The offices of the Frontier Post newspaper were set on fire on Tuesday
in anger over the letter, which criticised the Prophet Mohammad's
dealing's with Jews nearly 14 centuries ago.
The country's military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, has now ordered
a judicial inquiry to identify those responsible for the letter.
Riot
Hundreds of Islamic students blocked roads and then attacked the cinema
which they consider to be "un-Islamic".
Reports say they ripped out seats and destroyed the screen and
projecting equipment, before setting the theatre on fire.
Police fired teargas and used batons to disperse the rioters.
One report said the mob blocked the main highway leading from Peshawar
to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, and forced several schools to
close.
They chanted slogans such as "hang the culprits" and "blasphemy not
allowed".
In a statement on Wednesday, General Musharraf appealed for calm and
said the government "would not let the culprits go unpunished".
Controversy
Religious parties in Pakistan have been angered by the publication of
the letter - apparently sent by e-mail - headed Why Muslims Hate Jews.
They said the letter attacked the founder of Islam, the Prophet
Mohammad.
Following its publication, seven staff members of the paper, including
two editors, were charged with blasphemy - an offence punishable by
death in Pakistan.
The Frontier Post has since publicly apologised for publishing the
letter which, they said, was part of a conspiracy against the paper and
the people of Pakistan.
The editor said he suspected two disgruntled staff members may have
inserted the letter in the newspaper to harm it.
Pakistan's independent Human Rights Commission has condemned the letter
but said the government needed to take a stand against the riots.
"When all is said and done, it is for the administration and the courts
to determine the action that needs to be taken," the Commission said.
Under Pakistani law, if anyone is accused of blasphemy, the police are
obliged to register a case and make an arrest.
============
DAWN, Karachi, Pakistan
31 January 2001 Wednesday 05 Ziqa'ad 1421
EDITORIAL
Mistake or deliberate mischief?
==============
DAWN, Karachi, Pakistan
31 January 2001 Wednesday 05 Ziqa'ad 1421
Peshawar newspaper press set ablaze
By Mohammed Riaz
PESHAWAR, Jan 30: Angry protesters on Tuesday attacked the office of
the daily Frontier Post and set ablaze the printing machinery. The fire
gutted the machinery, newsprint rolls as well as other printing
material kept in the building.
Despite the presence of police personnel posted at the newspaper
contents of letter are liable to forfeiture under Section 99-A of the
CrPC 1898. All copies of the said letter along with their translation
in any language and in any manner, shall stand forfeited to government
with immediate effect".
PRESS NOTE: The District Magistrate, Peshawar, has issued the following
press note late Tuesday evening.
"In order to express their anger against the English daily Frontier
Post for publishing a letter containing highly blasphemous material in
its issue, dated Jan 29, today (Jan 30), a mob of about 1,000 people,
Governor's directive
Bureau Report
============
The News International, Karachi, Pakistan
By Rahimullah Yusufzai
========
Pakistan newspaper office attacked
Apology
=========================
==========
> In article <_0Yd6.266$x3.3351@uchinews>,
> akt <a...@no.email> wrote:
> > The writer raises a few legitimate points although I also think they
> > are not all beyond debate, the letter omits important details (e.g.,
> > protection of Jews from Christian persecution), and the presentation
> > need not have been so provocative. Diversion into the number of
> > wives Muhammad had seems pointless in this context.
> >
> > However, one can only wish that Muslims had chosen to refute the
> > letter rather than gone on a violent mob rampage---most of whose
> > victims, as usual, will undoubtedly be innocent people.
> >
> > What is known about the writer of this letter? If the reaction was
> > so violent towards the employees of the newspaper, what about the
> > actual writer of the letter?
> >
>
In article <cyhf2ff...@agha.cs.uiuc.edu>,
Professor Gul Agha at <ag...@cs.uiuc.edu> wrote:
:
: We all know Peshawar is not the exactly the bastion of peace-loving,
: calm, tolerant sufi followers of Rumi or Shah Latif, but the Frontier
: Post editors living in the city are no fools either.
:
: This smells like an Pakistani ISI operation, after their last one --
: filling the trunk of the Post's Managing Director's car with drugs (a
: case still "pending") failed to muzzle the Post's liberal
: anti-establishment, anti-Taliban, anti-ISI line. I suspect some plant
: slipped in the allegedly 'blasphemous' letter, rather tame by free
: world standards but sufficient to do the "trick".
:
: They are getting more sophisticated in muzzling opposition, having
: realized that frontal attacks (e.g., direct bans) generate more public
: sympathy and lead to international criticism.
:
: --
: Peace,
:
: Gul A. Agha
:
>
> The management is doing everything it can to
> win the nation's forgiveness. Thus a DAWN
> editorial reports, "The management has also
> filed an application with the police against
> its two employees, holding them responsible
> for the crisis. One of them Munawwar Mohsan,
> a Bengali national, is the in-charge of the
> letter's page."
>
> The letter was apparently sent by E-mail and
> signed as Benzdac or something to that effect.
> Management etc. seem to have unanimously
> identified the letter writer as a Jew but I am
> not sure if it is from hard evidence or from
> mere speculation that only a Jew will write
> such a letter.
>
> > > I think the letter is no longer viewable
> > > on Frontier Post website (www.frontierpost.com.pk).
> > > But I found this version in a related post on SCP:
> >
>
> Mo <mo2...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>> Frontier Post, Peshawar, Pakistan
>> Why Muslims hate Jews?
>> Updated on 1/29/2001 10:15:30 AM
>>...
>> In order to understand the continuous hate history of the Muslims
>> forJews through the present day violent hate for the Jews, one has to
>> understand the theological roots of Muslim anti-semitism that is
>> enshrined in the Koran.
>>
>> Only then can one understand how false are the claims that prior to
>> Zionism, Jews and Muslims lived in harmony, that neither Islam nor
>> Muslims harbored any hate for the Jews.
>>
>> The creation of the Jewish state in no way created Muslim hatred for
>> Jews.
>>
>> It merely intensified it and gave it new focus.
>>
>> So long as Jews acknowledged their inferior status among Muslims,
>> they wre allowed to exist under humiliation.
>>
>> But once the Jews succeeded in getting rid of their inferior status,
>> in becoming a sovereign state after centuries of servitude, and even
>> to govern some Muslims as is happening in Israel where there are some
>> 800,000 Muslims under Jewish rule.
Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/
Shomir
this silly issue. Is there any concept of "free" press in the land of the
"Pure"?
Imagine what the mullas would do if they were magically given a tour of the
usenet world! I bet they would ban the use of the computers and declare a
fatwa against the use of internet. It would be fun to watch the bones of
entombed mullas clatter in rage!
Shomir
=================
nkdat...@my-deja.com
DAWN, Karachi, Pakistan
February 2, 2001
The Frontier Post affair: worrying aspects
By Rashed Rahman
THE publication of a letter containing blasphemous and derogatory
material about the Prophet (PBUH) in particular and Islam in general has
provoked both state and non-state actors to come into action against the
offending newspaper, The Frontier Post, published from Peshawar. The
whole affair may be looked at from three different angles: the paper's
serious error, appropriate and inappropriate responses to the
publication of offensive material in the paper, and the government's
responsibilities.
As to the newspaper's share of the responsibility for this incident,
clearly it is the main culprit. But even a cursory reading of the
offending letter is enough to convince one that no one in his right mind
could have published such garbage. How, then, did it find space in the
letters column on the opinion page? There are two explanations that are
doing the rounds. One relies on the hackneyed conspiracy theory school
of thought, the other inclines towards the possibility that the material
in question was put on the page without even having been read.
The conspiracy theories surrounding the incident emanate from two
sources: one the management of The Frontier Post itself, the other,
journalist circles. The management has not only issued a public,
unqualified and abject apology for the serious error; it has also tried
to paint itself as the victim of a sinister conspiracy against itself,
the government and the ummah. The conspiracy, according to the
management, was aimed at closing down the paper and destabilizing the
country. It has suspended the employees apparently responsible, pending
an inquiry, and lodged a complaint with the police requesting
investigation into the matter. The paper has called for a judicial probe
to bring out the truth and appealed for public support in this hour of
trial.
Some journalist circles hold that the affair is connected to the
expected closure of the trial of the paper's owner, Rehmat Shah Afridi,
who has been behind bars since 1999 on drug smuggling charges. If there
is a conspiracy on these lines, it is aimed at preventing any sympathy
for Mr Afridi in case he is sentenced, argue the authors of this
somewhat convoluted construct. It may be recalled that some drug
smugglers have recently been sentenced, including a death sentence
handed down to one of them in whose case the prosecution attempted to
implicate Asif Zardari.The apex bodies of the newspaper trade, the All
Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and the Council of Pakistan
Newspapers Editors (CPNE) have expressed their profound concern and
regret at the incident. They have also voiced their anguish over the
reaction to the event, including burning and ransacking of the offices
and press of the newspaper in Peshawar.
The APNS has characterized the publication of the letter as
irresponsible journalism, which has hurt the feelings of all sane
people. Nevertheless the APNS notes that after the apology and other
moves to make amends by the management of the paper, the attacks on its
offices and press the next day should never have been allowed to happen.
The APNS has called upon journalists and publishers to exercise extreme
care and responsibility to avoid a repetition of such incidents, and
upon the ulema to guide the ummah on the appropriate course of action
after the persons allegedly involved have offered an unqualified apology
and requested a judicial inquiry. The authorities too, the APNS says,
should fulfil their responsibility to ensure the entire situation is
handled according to the law.
Last but not least, the APNS has noted that the incident was the result
of some individuals' action and could not be construed as the
irresponsible attitude of the press in general. The APNS and the CPNE
too want a judicial inquiry by a judge of the superior courts.
The stand taken by the APNS and the CPNE is the minimum expected of
them. However, the fear is that their calls for taking account of the
management's apology and for a judicial inquiry may already have been
overtaken by events. The ransacking and burning of the press and offices
of The Frontier Post has led to the suspension of its publication for
the first time since the paper appeared some 15 years ago. Its sister
Urdu paper, Maidan, has also had to suspend publication since it shared
the offices and press of The Frontier Post. The five employees of The
Frontier Post considered responsible for the appearance of the letter
have been arrested, produced in court and charged under the blasphemy
provisions of the CrPC, Sections 295 a, b and c, 505 and MPO 16. Section
295 a carries a possible death sentence.
Even a cursory reading of the letter indicates that it could not have
been published deliberately, except by a madman. The suspicion therefore
is that it went in unread. That does not, of course, absolve the paper
of its responsibility. Journalism requires vigilance beyond the
ordinary. Despite the best care and competence, sometimes the 'printer's
devil' produces unexpected results, much to the dismay of the editor.
Newspapers and other publications that make inadvertent errors are
expected to compensate by publishing apologies at the very least for
such errors.
Unfortunately, since the error in question is such a monumental blunder,
the impact and the reaction have been extreme. There is a need, however,
to make a distinction between an appropriate response and one based on
fanatical zealotry. Many religious parties and groups have carried out
peaceful protests against the offence caused.
Others, however, took the law into their own hands and ran amok, causing
severe damage to property. The authorities stood by with hands folded,
despite having sealed the offices of the newspaper and posted guards the
previous day.
The failure of the administration to prevent the arson and damage is one
more example of the government's show of helplessness in the face of
fire-breathing religious zealots. It follows from the previous
governments' abdication of responsibility, in similar situations, to
provide protection to the lives and property of citizens from fanatics
who are no respecters of the law or the injunctions of Islam on the
matter. In fact, on many occasions in the past the writ of the state has
been allowed to be twisted and turned to suit the expedient needs of
creatures brought into existence and then nurtured by powerful
institutions of the state itself.
There is no denying that responsible journalism requires care and
competence. The freedoms the press has won over the last decade or more
have been achieved at a great cost in struggle and sacrifice. It would
be a tragedy if these freedoms were now threatened because of the
foolish mistakes of a few. The threat from irrationality and intolerance
targets the arrested and other Frontier Post employees, management and
owners, as well as, potentially, press freedom itself. Because of one
mistake, no matter how serious or heinous, the whole edifice of press
freedom cannot be allowed to be rocked at will or demolished. We have
not perhaps heard or seen the last of the religious extremists on this
issue. The apprehension is that they may use the incident to justify
further attacks on the press whenever it seeks to critically examine or
comment upon their utterances or actions. Irrational zealotry was seen
to target the Peshawar Press Club in passing, as it were, during its
spree of violence.
The general public is not always familiar with the internal workings of
a newspaper.
It is put together on the day from diverse sources and by a diverse cast
of responsible personnel. At the apex sits the editor, who has to carry
the can for whatever appears in the paper, irrespective of whether he or
she actually saw it and approved it before publication or not.
Editorial responsibility is delegated down to section heads, and from
there to the personnel who do the nitty-gritty detailed work every day.
Each section head is considered to be responsible for whatever his or
her section puts out, and the buck eventually stops at the editor's
desk. Responsible employees are given a policy framework for the paper
to adhere to.
It goes without saying that no paper in Pakistan can even consider
publishing anything derogatory or blasphemous about the Prophet (PBUH)
or Islam.
It seems logical, therefore, to assume that the publication of the
letter in question was probably an oversight or a case of negligence
rather than a deliberate act of mischief. Given the possibility that
this is so, the response from a mature and civilized society to such
cases should be commensurate and appropriate, not a witch-hunt.
Freedom and responsibility have to go hand in hand. There is no such
thing as absolute freedom. Freedom enjoins the recognition of necessity,
and remaining within the bounds of good taste, accuracy, the law, and
steering clear of offending people's sensibilities. What the Frontier
Post incident points to is the onerous responsibility the task of
publishing newspapers imposes on journalists. As a trade, we need to
learn from this very unfortunate, serious mistake, but nevertheless a
mistake, which should not be blown out of proportion for the sake of
some other covert or not-so-hidden agenda.
============
maintaining a free press, which also takes full care of the religious
sentiments of the people.
====================================
===========
nkdat...@my-deja.com
The Friday Times, Lahore, Pakistan
9-15 February, 2001
EDITORIAL by Najma Sethi
Reason and irrationality?
The facts relating to the Frontier Post episode on January 29 expose the
degeneration of state and society in Pakistan. Indeed, for those who,
like General Pervez Musharraf, are concerned about the adverse
perceptions of Pakistan abroad, this case reveals what is wrong with us.
First: It is inconceivable that any sane Muslim could actually blaspheme
against Allah or the Prophet (peace be upon him). It is doubly
inconceivable that he/she would deliberately publish a blasphemous
statement made by anyone else, not least because the punishment for this
offence is death. But if a mad man were to commit this offence, the
punishment for it in any civilised society would be confinement to an
asylum for treatment rather than death at the hands of a frenzied mob.
But we do things differently here.
Second: The blasphemous letter from an American Jew got through the
defences of the concerned editor for three main reasons. (a) It was
received by e-mail, which meant that it didn't have to be scrutinised
and then typed. (b) Its headline (Why Muslims hate Jews) was the stuff
of everyday views in this country, which meant that its chances of being
glossed over were greater than if it had been the other way round (Why
Jews hate Muslims) (c) It was in English which, unfortunately, is not
even a sufficiently-grasped second language for a majority of the
writing and subbing staff of many such newspapers (a former editor of
the FP in Lahore likes to recount fearful stories of how many reporters
were inclined to file copy in Urdu, which then had to be translated into
English by only marginally better English writers). This is a good
example of what can go wrong when information technology is expected to
interface efficiently with a barely literate society.
Third: The mobs that burnt down the press the following day comprised
zealots who hadn't even seen the letter because they couldn't read or
write a word of English. Indeed, if they'd been instigated to murder,
they would have done so blindly. But they were neither herded to an
asylum, nor booked for arson. Such is the sorry state of law enforcement
in our country.
Fourth: General Pervez Musharraf was quick to denounce the publication
of the letter as an unacceptable transgression of "press freedom". That
the case had nothing at all to do with press freedom was obvious enough.
But General Musharraf's readiness to tar and feather the press at the
first available opportunity reveals his basic hostility to the idea of
fundamental rights. Indeed, it is clear that the supergenerals tolerate
a free press not because they sincerely believe in its virtues but
because the existence of a free press generates desperately needed
brownie points for them from the international community. At least there
should be no illusions on this score.
Fifth: The role played by PTV was extremely negative. The pictures and
commentary on the national Khabarnama were designed to fuel outrage
against the alleged perpetrators of blasphemy rather than urge restraint
and uphold law and order. Interestingly enough, though, five people were
killed the same day in Quetta as a result of police violence against a
crowd of demonstrators protesting the dismal drought conditions in
Balochistan that have wrecked the lives of countless unfortunate
citizens. But there was not one word on Khabarnama about their grievous
fate. When the medium is the message in this increasingly violent and
fanatical country, why should we blame foreigners for portraying and
perceiving us as we really are in everyday life?
Sixth: The local general was more loyal than the Chief. The
administration charged seven persons, including the chowkidar of the
press, with blasphemy, arrested them, closed down the paper, blacked out
its web-site, escorted another mob to attack a cinema in the area the
following day, arrested six more persons from the FP's Urdu publication
Maidan and shut it down. Such imprisonment is euphemistically called
"protective custody" in this country. It means that instead of
protecting you by dispersing the lawless mob, the state is ready to
abuse your freedom by putting you into prison.
If the events of January 29/30 have deservedly marred the image of the
government and people of this country, we might say a silent prayer for
a ray of sanity in its aftermath. A commission of inquiry has been
established to sort out this mess. The leaders of the religious parties
have been persuaded to cool tempers (indeed, they are now wont to claim
that they fell into a trap set by Islam-hating Jews - incidentally, an
unrepentant Brooke BenDzac has now e-mailed newspapers crowing that the
reaction to his letter proved the point he was trying to make). And
chances are that all but one or two of the accused journalists will
shortly be set free.
Civil society is increasingly held hostage by religious fanatics in
Pakistan. So-called "Islamic" laws, which distort reality, hinder rather
than help progress. In an age of reason and rationality, General
Musharraf's Pakistan is out of step with the rest of the world.
==========================
==========================
================