Pakistan’s prominent singer and politician Abrar-ul-Haq has announced his support for Islamists who are protesting against the Government in the city of Narowal. In a video message Haq urged the Government to give in to the demands of the Islamist protestors.
The protestors are part of Tehrike-e-Labbaik-Ya-Rasulullah (TLYR) who have shutdown the capital Islamabad for the last few days and have called on the Government among other things to release blasphemy killers, hang blasphemers and limit the activities of Ahmadis, who they consider apostates.
Haq in his video message, referred to the controversy over Pakistan’s electoral law, which according to Islamist protestors would have allegedly allowed the members of the persecuted Ahmadiyya community to take part in the electoral process. Condemning the change in the law, and expressing his support for Islamist protestors, Haq said:
In the matter of the removal of the KhatmeNabuwat clause from the oath, those who protested infront of the office of Ahsan Iqbal in Narowal, they were beaten by sticks by the Government. I condemn this in the strongest possible terms and I demand the Government listen to them, and evaluate their demands. I believe these are very justified demands.
Haq also called for resignation of the Ministers involved in tabling the law in Parliament.
All the people who presented this people which include Mr. Ahsan, all these people should resign from office and do not take it easy, do you think you will fool the public by saying that it was a mistake. These are done after discussions and proposals and advice, then the bill is proposed and then voting takes place and then it passes after votes.
Haq further warned Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan’s Minister of the lashback from Islamists and urged him to think about his afterlife and resign.
You have taken it back due to the lashback from the public but you are upset over it and you will pay for it, whoever is responsible [for the bill] will have to resign. I am with these people, I tell people of Narowal be brave, I am with you.The greatest thing is that our faith is with us. Their politics has is already ruined, I do not know why they also want to ruin their afterlife. I want to say to them do not treat the lovers of Prophet Muhammad like this, you got Islamabad shut down now do not do the same in Narowa, they [Govt] should immediately talk to them and negotiate with them and accept their legitimate demands.