Banned sectarian outfit Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) leader Moavia Azam Tariq, who is also on the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, was seen inciting violence against ‘blasphemers’ while addressing an event held at Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.
Moavia Azam Tariq could be seen addressing an ulema convention in a video that he uploaded on his Twitter handle.
He claimed: “1732 FIRs have been registered under blasphemy charges but these ‘blasphemers’ are roaming free in the country due to weak laws”.
1732 گستاخی کی ایف آئی آر ۔۔۔
علماء کنونشن اسلام آباد @ArifAlvi @SenatePakistan @ImranKhanPTI @CMShehbaz @OfficialDGISPR @HamidMirPAK @AajKamranKhan @SaleemKhanSafi @UmarCheema1 @AnsarAAbbasi @TalatHussain12 @mubasherlucman @OryaMaqboolJan @OfficialDPRPP pic.twitter.com/l9qRKEQbEr— Muhammad Moavia Azam (Official) (@moavia_official) February 16, 2023
“It is said that religious people are sentimental, however, 1732 ‘blasphemers’ still roam free in this country and there is no restriction on their movement despite FIRs,” he claimed.
“Despite this, the ulemas gathered here are only demanding a strict blasphemy law”, he said, while questioning “if this is not tolerance then what is?”
The statement comes days after a mob in Nankana Sahib attacked a police station and lynched a man accused of blasphemy, later setting his body on fire.
National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA)’s website states that there are restrictions on travel, speech, and business, of proscribed persons, who are included in the 4th Schedule.
It also states that there are passport and arms license embargos on such individuals. The list of proscribed persons is also shared with the State Bank of Pakistan for monitoring and freezing of their accounts. They are also kept under strict surveillance by intelligence agencies as well as concerned police departments. There is also a ban on loans and credit cards for them.
