Malaysian court clears Muslim of church firebomb attack
July 31, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian court has cleared a Muslim man accused of firebombing a church, reports said Saturday, one of a spate of attacks on places of worship that escalated ethnic tensions.
Eleven churches were attacked with Molotov cocktails, stones and paint in violence earlier this year in Muslim-majority Malaysia, triggered by a ruling that overturned a ban on non-Muslims using “Allah” as a translation for “God”.
Dispatch rider Azuwan Shah Ahmad and two brothers are the first to face the courts in connection with the attacks.
They were charged over the firebombing of a church in a southern suburb of Kuala Lumpur on January 7.
“There is insufficient evidence to link Azuwan Shah Ahmad, 23, to the offence,” Sessions Court judge S.M. Komathy Suppiah said in acquitting him on Friday, according to the Star newspaper.
Witnesses reportedly told the court that Azuwan was only present at a gathering before the attack, but did not go to the church. Azuwan”s lawyer could not be reached for comment.
Coalition With MQM Will Remain Intact: PM Gilani
Rawalpindi, Pakistan News: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Saturday that government was not under threat, adding that coalition would remain intact with MQM and other partners. He said the re-promulgation of National Command Authority Ordinance 2009 prove that he had no differences with President Asif Ali Zardari. Commenting on NRO he said courts were not new to Pakistan People’s Party and vowed to face the courts.
Talking to media during his visit to Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, PM Gilani said “President has even extradited chairmanship of NCA to me, what other authority should he give?” Prime Minister revealed that when the new government was established some people said you had three months, 3 months passed and they said you had further 3 months, many 3 months had passed but nothing happened to the government. Answering a question about NRO, he said “When you’re trading coal, your hands would get blackened. Allegations are part of politics; we will face courts and will accept whatever their verdicts are.” Gilani said also didn’t want to harm the present system.
Coalition With MQM Will Remain Intact: PM Gilani was first posted on November 28, 2009 at 7:02 pm.
National Assembly to Meet at 4pm Today
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: National Assembly to Meet at 4pm Today, Political tensions are brewing over the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), just ahead of the crucial National Assembly session, which is set to hold its 18th session at 4pm on Wednesday, wherein the controversial NRO would most likely be taken up.
The Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) has made it clear that not only would it oppose the ordinance, but would also mobilise the public against. However, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) went one step further, with MQM chief Altaf Hussain advising President Zardari to resign and face the courts.
Mr Mohammad Anwar, a member of the MQM’s Co-ordination Committee, told media that Altaf Hussain had suggested resignation to the president so that democracy is not derailed. He further said that the MQM is currently debating whether to support or oppose the NRO, and that the party would reach a decision in a day or two.
However, he added that supporting the NRO is tantamount to legitimising corruption.
Meanwhile, in Islamabad, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif clearly outlined his opposition to the NRO. He said that the NRO is a black law, and it would tarnish Pakistan’s democratic image. He further said that his party would never support any move to destabilise the democratic order. However, he added, that the NRO in itself would be detrimental to democracy.
While the Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) has also lashed out at the ordinance, saying that their party was not taken into confidence by the then-president Pervez Musharraf before promulgating it. Party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain unequivocally stated that his party would also oppose the controversial ordinance.
National Assembly to Meet at 4pm Today was first posted on November 4, 2009 at 3:06 pm.
