TikTok, books do not pose danger to Islam in Pakistan: Fawad Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: Islam in Pakistan was not threatened either by TikTok or books, Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry said Sunday, a few days after the Punjab Assembly passed the Tahaffuz-e-Bunyad-e-Islam Bill.

In a series of tweets, Chaudhry underlined how "at present, an atmosphere has been created in the parliament, especially in Punjab, where a member comes up with a new motion every other day, claiming Islam is in danger if that is not passed".

"This is a dangerous attitude that will throw us into a vicious circle of sectarian and religious extremism," he said. "In Pakistan, Islam is neither threatened by TikTok nor books."

Read more: Punjab Assembly passes Tahaffuz-e-Bunyad-e-Islam Bill

The minister added that Pakistan, on the other hand, was threatened by sectarian divisions and extremism.

"Individuals in palaces should be careful not to fan the flames lest they be burned themselves," he noted further.

Pakistan with green flag

Earlier today, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) chief Allama Nasir Abbas spoke about the Tahaffuz-e-Bunyad-e-Islam Bill passed Wednesday by the Punjab Assembly, saying: "We need Quaid-e-Azam's, Allama Iqbal's Pakistan, with a green flag and a crescent."

"Unfortunately, some elements do not want the country to remain Quaid-e-Azam's Pakistan," he added, noting that the Constitution gave every citizen in the country the right to live their lives according to their faith.

"The country is facing economic, political and diplomatic problems. In the current situation, it cannot afford any more challenges," he added.

'Islam takes precedence over everything else'

In addition, Senator Professor Sajid Mir, the chief of the central Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadees, also issued his comments about the bill while speaking Lahore, saying his group supported the passage of the Tahaffuz-e-Bunyad-e-Islam Bill in the Punjab Assembly.

"There may be political differences but Islam takes precedence over everything else," Prof Mir added, terming the bill "a historic step".

The senator further noted that Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and other MPAs deserved congratulations on the Bill's passage.

"The Tahaffuz-e-Bunyad-e-Islam Bill is the best attempt to eradicate sectarianism in the spirit of Islam," the cleric said.

'Permanently hampered'

Last week, the Punjab Assembly had passed the Tahaffuz-e-Bunyad-e-Islam Bill 2020, which gives the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) powers to visit and inspect any printing press, publishing house or bookstore and confiscate any book, before or after printing.

Also read: Chaudhry speaks up about 'moral policing and ban approach'

Earlier, Chaudhry had spoken about it was not okay to go on banning apps left, right, and centre, as it would "destroy [Pakistani] tech industry".

He had further highlighted how development in technology would "be permanently hampered" across Pakistan, a country that already lags significantly behind the world in terms of science and research.

—Additional reporting by Azam Malik in Lahore