Malik on Raiwind missionary: Parliamentary committee seeks explanation

The Interior Minister had earlier said Raiwind missionary is the breeding of "extremism and terrorism in Pakistan". PHOTO: PID/ FILE

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) has sought an explanation from Interior Minister Rehman Malik over his remarks on the Tableeghi Jamat missionary centre in Raiwind, Express 24/7 reported Friday.
Malik had reportedly said the missionary centre was the breeding of “extremism and terrorism in Pakistan”.
The committee, headed by Raza Rabbani, took notice of Malik’s statement regarding religious gatherings.
During the meeting, participants including Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam F (JUI-F)’s chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman, strongly condemned the Interior Minister’s statement and demanded his explanation in the next meeting.
(Read: Govt threatening to shut seminaries down: Fazl)
The Interior Secretary Chaudhry Qamar Zaman has been directed to convey committee’s concerns to the Interior Minister.
Missionaries are the heart of Islam: Shujaat
Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said that missionaries are the ‘heart of Islam’ and will be defended at any cost.
Shujaat took exception to Malik’s statement who termed Raiwind’s religious centres as sanctuaries of terrorists.
The PML-Q chief further said that those who call preaching centres a hub of terrorism view things negatively.