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A
bid to scare moderates
By Asim Hussain
LAHORE
THE assassination of Dr Sarfraz
Naeemi seems an attempt to silence one of the most moderate voices
among the scholars of the Ahle Sunnat school of thought. His
colleagues and close aides view his killing as part of a conspiracy
to fuel the growing sectarian tension by pushing Ahle Sunnat school
of thought into the arena to spark direct Barelvi-Deobandi clash.
Dr Naeemi has been a strong critic of
the US presence in the region and vehemently opposed Gen Musharraf’s
decision to shoulder the US war on terror in Afghanistan, and had to
pay the price for his opposition by serving few short terms in
prison. He viewed the US and Indian hands behind the present Taliban
insurgency and till his last breath was demanding exposing the
elements responsible for direct supplying of arms and money to the
Taliban from Washington, Delhi and Tel Aviv.
Only 48 hours before his death, while
addressing a large “Save Pakistan Ulema Convention” in Lahore,
Allama Naeemi warned that if Pakistan did not stop fighting US war
and plug the money and resources supply to the Taliban from the US,
India, UAE, Saudi Arabia and other countries, the country’s nuclear
assets and integrity would be at stake.
Demanding strict action against the
officials of secret agencies and politicians involved in receiving
foreign funding for sectarian activities, he stressed that the
current military operation must not be delayed and should be taken
to its logical conclusion at the earliest to eliminate the
anti-state elements and allow the internally displaced persons to
return to their homes in order to prevent them from being led astray
and get involved in anti-state activities.
Mehfoozur Rehman Naeemi, elder
brother of Dr Sarfraz Naeemi and principal of Jamia Sirajia Naeemia,
Mughalpura, said his brother was targeted under a conspiracy to
spark sectarian strife.
Talking to The News, he said Sarfraz
Naeemi had no particular enemies since he was a humble and peace
loving person and was regarded as a moderate scholar. Yet Sarfraz
Naeemi received threats from certain quarters because of his stance
on the present situation, he said.
Raghib Hussain Naeemi, the only son
of Dr Sarfraz Naeemi, told the media persons after the assassination
that his father always stood for peace and laid down his life for
peace and security of the country.
He urged upon the angry students of
Dr Naeemi to stay calm, refrain from taking law into their hands,
and carry forward the mission of peace of their teacher. Talking to
The News, Raghib said his father had no direct role in the ongoing
insurgency since he was a strong advocate of Muslim unity and had
never spoken anything harsh against the sect of those working in the
name of the Taliban.
“My father always regarded the
Taliban as criminals and enemy agents having no religion or sect. He
had always termed so-called Taliban as US agents working on a
conspiracy to disintegrate Pakistan,” he said.
The News: Saturday, June 13, 2009
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