Council of Islamic Ideology deems declaring anyone wajib-ul-qatl as ‘illegal’

Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi, has stated that declaring a person liable for death (wajib-ul-qatl) is unlawful and unjust.

Dr. Naeemi declared in a statement that such emotional actions undermine the purpose of protecting Prophethood. No individual, group, or organisation is permitted to execute anyone through a judicial process, issue fatwas, or give orders.

A statement from the office of the Chairman of CII emphasised that Pakistan, as an Islamic state, maintains a legal system with permanent penalties for all types of crimes, administered by courts following prescribed procedures.

The Council has repeatedly stressed that incitement, issuing fatwas of takfir, and making threats against government officials, the state, or ordinary citizens contradict the clear teachings of the Quran and Sunnah.

The statement further asserts that in a unified declaration by Pakistan’s esteemed scholars and muftis from all schools, it is affirmed that religious scholars and muftis have an official duty to impart religious knowledge and address moral issues, providing Shariah-based solutions. However, the determination of whether someone has committed blasphemy or uttered blasphemous statements falls within the jurisdiction of the state, its government, and the judiciary.

The recent Supreme Court ruling is also said to permit scholarly discourse in case of disagreements. The Islamic Ideological Council itself has expressed its dissent in a scholarly and reasoned manner regarding this issue. Additionally, no individual is authorised to pass judgement on others’ faith or issue fatwas based on arbitrary interpretations.