Islamabad: In a significant judicial revision, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has approved a petition by the Punjab government, amending its earlier ruling on religious freedom and the legality of certain religious texts. This decision, prompted by concerns from the Union of 23 Religious Parties of Pakistan, aims to rectify perceived ambiguities in the court’s previous judgments regarding the distribution of religious texts and the registration of cases against Qadianis under the Prohibition of Qadiani Ordinance.
According to Supreme Court of Pakistan, the revision addresses specific issues raised by Sahibzada Abul Khair Muhammad Zubair, General Secretary Mr. Liaquat Baloch, and other leaders. They expressed satisfaction to a degree with the updated ruling, noting that it now explicitly criminalizes the publication and distribution of what it terms ‘distorted’ religious texts. The court’s clarification reaffirms the prohibition of Qadianism as both constitutionally and legally valid, maintaining the ordinance in full effect.
The leaders of the religious parties highlighted several key points from the Supreme Court’s decision:
1. The clear criminalization of publishing and distributing distorted versions of the Quran, correcting what they deemed an oversight in the court’s previous stance on religious freedom.
2. Confirmation that legal actions can be initiated against Qadianis who violate the Prohibition of Qadiani Ordinance, addressing past ambiguities.
3. Reinstatement of constitutional restrictions related to law, public order, and morals that were previously omitted, which they argue could have allowed Qadianis to pursue unconstitutional activities.
4. Affirmation of prior legal precedents set by the Zaheeruddin and Mujeebur Rahman cases, reinforcing their status as binding legal decisions.
5. A call for Qadianis to identify openly as non-Muslims, critiquing the court’s distinction between private and public identities as potentially causing legal and social confusion.
The revision aims to solidify the legal framework surrounding religious freedom and the identification of religious groups, ensuring consistency with Pakistan’s constitutional mandates. The National Solidarity Council has expressed gratitude towards their legal team for their efforts in achieving these clarifications.