Political & religious leadership, cricketers condemn chanting of slogans against PM & his delegation at Masjid-e-Nabwi (PBUH) in Madinah
ISLAMABAD, April 29 (SABAH): The political and religious leadership of Pakistan and others from different sections of society strictly condemned on Friday the chanting of slogans against Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation at Masjid-e-Nabwi (PBUH) in Madinah.
A group of protesting worshippers violated the sanctity of the sacred site and chanted slogans against the premier and other government officials who accompanied him as soon as they entered Masjid-e-Nabawi to pay their respects at the Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH).
The protesters passed derogatory remarks against Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, and misbehaved with Jamhoori Wattan Party (JWP) Chief and Minister for Narcotics Control Nawabzada Shahzain Khan Bugti.
Following the incident, politicians, religious leaders and others expressed outrage at the unfortunate incident and vehemently condemned it.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan has said that a handful of people maligned Pakistanis at Roza Rasool (SAWW).
In a statement on Friday, Rana Sanullah Khan also strongly condemned the disrespectful incident that took place at the holy mosque.
Meanwhile, Religious Scholars have also strongly denounced the disrespectful incident that took place at the Masjid-e-Nabwi (PBUH) in Medina.
In a tweet, Mutfi Taqi Usmani said the companions of last Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Rasool Allah Khatim un Nabiyeen Sallallaho Alaihe Wa Ala Alayhee Wa Ashabehi Wassalam also used to keep their voice low at Roza Rasool (SAWW).
He said some elements have however proved that respect, sanctity and morality are nothing but a myth for them.
JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman condemned the incident and said Haram-e-Medina is a place of respect for the entire Muslim Ummah.
“Speaking loudly in the mosque is against Islamic etiquette,” he said. “Whatever happened there today couldn’t be more insulting to the holy site. Those who cannot respect the sanctity of the house of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) cannot claim to follow his teachings.”
Maulana Fazlur Rehman has asked the religious scholars to condemn in their Friday sermons the incident that took place at Masjid-e-Nabvi.
He regretted that the sanctity of Roza Rasool (SAWW) was not kept in mind by certain elements whilst resorting to sloganeering.
Commenting on the incident, Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Nawabzada Shahzain Khan Bugti said: “I respect Mecca and Medina a lot and no one can speak in a loud voice there.”
Likewise, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, without using Imran Khan’s name but in an apparent reference to him, said: “I don’t want to name the person responsible for this incident because I don’t want to use this holy land for political purpose.” “However, it will take time for us to fix the ways in which these people have damaged our society and we can only do that through a positive attitude.” She further added that the PML-N leadership has instructed its workers to control their emotions.
Ex-prime minister of Azad Kashmir Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan also condemned the chanting of slogans at Masjid-e-Nabawi and announced holding a protest against the move after Friday prayers.
Criticising former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed, Haider said “inciting people to violence is unacceptable”. “PTI supporters have lost their minds after losing their government,” he said.
MQM-Pakistan leader and Minister for Maritime Affairs Senator Faisal Ali Subzwari said those who were condemning Captain Safdar for chanting slogans at Mazar-e-Quaid are now celebrating the chanting of political slogans at Masjid-e-Nabawi.
PML-N Secretary General and Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry also denounced the incident.
Acclaimed scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel also regretted the protest that took place at the Prophet’s mosque and said that disrespect to the Haram Sharif is not acceptable in Islam.
Popular Pakistani cricketer Kamran Akmal termed the incident “a very shameful act.
” While sharing his experience, former national cricket team captain Mohammad Yousaf said when he had seen ‘Kaaba’ and Roza-e-Rasool for (PBUH) for the first time, he had started crying due to his emotions.“I ask forgiveness to Allah for what has happened today at Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH),” he tweeted.
PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan also condemned the incident and called it “against the sanctity of the holy place”.
Pakistan Ulema Council Chairperson and PM’s special aid on religious harmony and Middle East Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi has expressed displeasure at Pakistanis chanting anti-Shehbaz slogans at the Masjid-e-Nabawi (PBUH) and stated that they had disrespected the holy mosque and Pakistan.
In a video statement released earlier on Friday, Tahir Ashrafi said that at the holy site, Muslims were meant to bow their heads and lower their voices instead of raising “dirty slogans” and hurling allegations at the time of Iftar on the 27th of Ramadan. He maintained that those who indulged in this behaviour dishonoured their country.
The SAPM said that ex-prime minister Imran Khan and now Shehbaz Sharif were the guests of Saudi Arabia and the sanctity of the mosque should have been observed. “I am ashamed of what some people did at the Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH),” he said adding that these people had disrespected the mosque.
He claimed that those who violated the laws of the Muslim countries had been incarcerated with local authorities not agreeing to release them and that now these people will be in trouble as well.