The Election Commission’s inaction on hate speech targeting Shia Muslims raises concerns.
General Elections are scheduled for February 8, 2024, and the election campaign among the contesting candidates is currently in full swing. There has been a noticeable disregard for the code of conduct established by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) during election rallies.
An incident of hate speech occurred during an election rally organized by the PML-N candidate for PP-200 Sahiwal. In this rally, a speaker engaged in hate speech against the Shia Muslim community, labeling Shia Muslims as ‘apostates.’
https://x.com/syedzaighum110/status/1753473360837611562?s=20
The video of this hate speech from the PML-N’s candidate went viral on social media. Some social media posts attributed this hate speech to local politician Arshad Malik, who holds the PML-N ticket in PP-200 Sahiwal. However, Malik vehemently denied his involvement in the hate speech against the Shia-Muslim community. While admitting that the hate speech incident did occur during the election rally, he attributed it to someone else.
Speaking to the media at the Sahiwal Press Club, the PML-N candidate stated that he has no connection to the individual in the video and that it is falsely being attributed to him. He expressed respect for the Shia Muslims, emphasizing his belief in being a Muslim and his involvement in serving during Muharram.
Maulana Masoomi, the religious leader of the Shia community in Sahiwal district, revealed that the Shia community had requested the District Returning Officer (DRO) Sahiwal to take notice of the hate speech incident against Shia Muslims in the PML-N’s election rally. However, no action has been initiated against those responsible for the hate speech.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has allowed organizations listed as proscribed under the cover of political organizations and permitted them to participate in elections. A notoriously banned outfit, Sipah Sahabah Pakistan (SSP), aka Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), both listed as proscribed organizations by the National Authority for Counter Terrorism (NACT), is contesting the upcoming general elections in February 2024 under the banner of the Pakistan-Rah-e-Haq Party (PRP). PRP serves as a cover name for ASWJ, and some of its prominent leaders, such as Asif Moavia Siyal, are contesting elections on PML-N’s tickets.
PRP is contesting 41 seats in the National Assembly and 100 across all four provincial assemblies (20 from Punjab, 52 from Sindh, 12 from KPK, and 16 from Baluchistan). Despite its status as a covered name for the banned outfit ASWJ/SSP and its office-holders being listed in the Fourth Schedule List of four provinces, the Election Commission of Pakistan has registered PRP as a political party and allotted it an election symbol. Major political parties, including Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, Muthida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQMP), JUI-F, and the Grand Democratic Alliance, have made seat adjustments with the PRP.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/p/Pakistan-Rah-e-Haq-Party-Official-100088971907572/
PRP’s candidates and officeholders have been spreading hate speech against the Shia Muslim community, inciting non-Shia masses to commit violence against Shia Muslims while using blasphemy and apostasy allegations. Surprisingly, the Election Commission of Pakistan has not issued a single show-cause notice against any contesting candidate of the PRP or any other party.
References:
https://www.facebook.com/p/Pakistan-Rah-e-Haq-Party-Official-100088971907572/
https://electionpakistan.com/political-parties/
PRP’s registered number in the official list of registered political parties is 68.
https://www.geo.tv/election/candidates/PRP
https://www.nation.com.pk/12-Jan-2024/ji-rah-e-haq-party-forge-alliance-in-peshawar
