On the expected lines, a growing number of Islamist leaders say the earthquake was divine retribution for the pro-US policy of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. Little wonder, in the same breath these religious leaders have renewed calls for stricy adherene to Islamic laws.
In NWFP, a controversial Taliban-style bill has been revived by the ruling six-party religious alliance, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). The provincial justice minister, Malik Zafar Azam, said the earthquake was the result of God’s wrath at man’s misdeeds. The new law would appoint a watchdog called Hisba, or Accountability, to uphold Islamic values.
His words were echoed by another Islamist politician in the province, Prof Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, leader of the Jama’atud Dawa. He said: “We must enforce Islamic law in the country a the earthquake is a punishment for what the rulers have done to please the United States.” Last week al-Qa’eda issued a video appeal for Muslims to go to Pakistan to help in the relief effort.
Also see the related earlier post No. 131 “Tremor is Allah’s wrath for obscenity on TV” on October 15
Read More: Telegraph
