A blasphemy case has been registered by Pakistan police against a pop-star turned Islamic preacher after he was accused of hurting religious sentiments.
According to a report in Al Jazeera, an investigation was opened against Junaid Jamshed, better known as "disco mullah", on Tuesday after he reportedly insulted one of Prophet Muhammad's wife. The case has been registered in the southern port city of Karachi.
The complaint was made by the Pakistani Sunni Tehreek party over a video that was released last weekend, according to police officer Sheraz Nazeer
Blasphemy is an offence that is punishable by death, according to strict Islamic Sharia law, but there is no clear definition of what is blasphemous, says a report in Saudi Gazette.
Anyone can file a case of blasphemy alleging religious sentiments were hurt. However, no has been executed under this law so far.
Apparently, in this case, Jamshed was talking about flaws of women in a video and insulted one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad.
"The case has been registered under Sections 298-A and 295-C (of the Pakistan Penal Code) - the use of derogatory remarks in respect of the Holy Prophet and use of derogatory remarks in respect of wives of the Holy Prophet," Mehmood Ahmed, a police officer in Karachi, said.
Soon after the video went viral, Jamshed released another video on Tuesday apologizing and claiming innocence. "I confess to my mistake," he said. "I did not do it intentionally."
"This is my mistake and it is because of my ignorance, because of my lack of knowledge," the 50-year-old further said. "With a clean heart I ask that Allah forgive me and I beg and beseech all Muslims to forgive me. This was not on purpose."
However, his apology was rejected by the Pakistan Sunni Tehreek Party who demanded his arrest and trial in court.
"We demand an immediate arrest of Junaid Jamshed, who is a cursed person," party spokesman Mobin Qadri was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.
Before his retirement as a pop star in 2001, Jamshed was one of the most popular singers in Pakistan with a string of chart-topping songs to his credit. At the time of his retirement, he announced that he wanted to dedicate and devote his life to Islam and soon associated himself with one of the deeply conservative Islamic groups called Tableeghi Jamaat.
This is not the first time Jamshed has been in the news for his remarks. He was previously criticized for preaching that women should not be allowed to drive or leave their homes unless accompanied by a male companion.
