Maryam Nawaz urges police action instead of mob justice in blasphemy cases

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has emphasised the urgent need for police action against blasphemy suspects while cautioning against the misuse of such allegations to score personal vendettas.

Speaking at a conference in Lahore organized by the Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen Committee — a body formed to maintain religious harmony, brotherhood, and tolerance — Maryam Nawaz highlighted the rising incidents of alleged desecration of the holy Quran and the importance of addressing their causes.

She stressed that allegations of blasphemy are often used to settle scores, which leads to mobs taking the law into their own hands without proper investigation.

She underscored the necessity of rapid police action to verify these allegations and ensure appropriate sentencing for those found guilty.

“No matter what happens, we must not allow anyone to take the law into their hands, set up courts in their streets and areas, and issue sentences and fatwas,” she asserted.

During the meeting, Maryam Nawaz welcomed all participants, including Ulemas and Mashaykhs, and reiterated the importance of the committee’s role in today’s context.

She called for the Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen Committee to meet every three months instead of annually to better address these critical issues. Reflecting on recent events, she mentioned the concerning incidents in Swat and the shooting of Ahsan Iqbal, emphasizing the need for collective action to prevent such occurrences.

Maryam Nawaz also highlighted the importance of defamation laws in Pakistan, noting that while media should be respected, no one should be allowed to spread slander and defame others.

She called for a united effort to present the true and beautiful face of religion to the world and to prevent the misuse of blasphemy allegations that lead to violence and unrest.