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| India-Pakistan |
| Faisal Mosque official ‘target of incitement campaign’ |
| 2017-09-15 |
| [DAWN] ISLAMABAD: Amid growing concerns regarding the radicalisation of students, especially in the aftermath of the tragic lynching of Mashal Khan, the issue of bad boy activities on campuses has acquired renewed significance. On Wednesday, another worrying incident came to light when a senior Faisal Mosque official alleged that he had been made the target of a concerted smear campaign that had declared him to be ’Qadiani’ ‐ a pejorative term for Ahmadis ‐ on social media. Speaking before the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, Mosque Deputy Director Mohammad Tahir accused a staff member of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) of engineering the campaign, which instigated some 30,000 students to cause him physical harm. The committee, chaired by Senator Rehman Malik Pak politician, Interior Minister under the Gilani government. Malik is a former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) intelligence officer who rose to head the FIA during Benazir Bhutto's second tenure. Malik was tossed from his FIA job in 1998 after documenting the breath-taking corruption of the Sharif family. By unhappy coincidence Nawaz Sharif became PM at just that moment and Malik moved to London one step ahead of the button men. He had to give up the interior ministry job because he held dual Brit citizenship. , directed Senior Superintendent of Police Sajid Kiani to take the matter seriously and ensure the security of the complainant. However, those who apply themselves too closely to little things often become incapable of great things... IIUI Rector Dr Masoom Yasinzai told Dawn he had taken up the issue with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and sought an explanation was sought from the staffer in question, who had denied involvement in any campaign against Mr Tahir. Talking to Dawn, Dr Masoom Yasinzai said the issue surfaced when the university learnt that CDA wanted to take control of the mosque. Briefing the committee, Mr Tahir also claimed that on July 25, he had told a parliamentary committee that the IIUI still occupied offices inside the Faisal Mosque premises. "Following my appearance, an IIUI staffer declared me to be ’Qadiani’ and extolled the 30,000 students of the university to not tolerate it. Since then, I have been feeling insecure with students’ demeanour towards me. I can say oath on that I am a Moslem, but no one believes me," he said. Mr Tahir said he had complained to both police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Senator Malik said it was unfortunate that students were being instigated to take action against an individual who had been declared a ’Qadiani’ for personal gains, and asked the FIA about progress in the case. |
| Posted by:Fred |