Islamamabad (National Times) The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has declared that deeming anyone as deserving of death is both un-Islamic and illegal. In a statement issued by the council’s chairman on Monday, it was emphasised that emotional actions leading to killings harm the cause of the belief in the finality of Prophethood.

The statement clarified that no individual, group, or mob has the legal or religious authority to act as judge and issue a fatwa or decree for someone’s murder.

Such incitement, takfiri fatwas, and threats to kill government officials, state representatives, or ordinary citizens are in clear contradiction with the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah, it maintained.

The CII stressed that scholars and muftis have to provide religious awareness about right and wrong beliefs and offer correct Islamic solutions to issues.

The decision on whether someone has committed an act of disbelief or uttered blasphemous words falls within the jurisdiction of the state, government, and courts, it stated.

The statement further noted that the practice of issuing fatwas of disbelief and deeming individuals as deserving of death is not aligned with Islamic principles.

Earlier on Monday, police arrested the Deputy Amir of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Pir Zaheer Hassan Shah, for issuing threats to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa.

Sources revealed that Shah was apprehended in Okara, where he had been hiding at an undisclosed location. An FIR had been registered against him for issuing death threats to CJP Isa.

According to the FIR, during a protest outside the Lahore Press Club, Shah incited hatred against the judiciary and announced a reward of PKR10 million for anyone who brings the head of Justice Faez Isa. The FIR also included charges against 1,500 TLP workers.