ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday warned that the state would take action against leaders of an ultraconservative religious-political group for issuing death threats against the country’s top judge over allegations he had committed blasphemy, with police registering a case against several party members. 

The development comes a day after the release of a video by a leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party in which he was heard announcing a reward of Rs1,00,00,000 [$35,953] for anyone who killed Chief justice Qazi Faez Isa. 

In February this year, hundreds of supporters from religious groups led by the TLP rallied to protest against what they said were blasphemous remarks by Isa in a case against a member of the minority Ahmadi community. Following the protests, the Supreme Court had released a statement calling the “impression” of blasphemy “absolutely wrong” and deploring the “vicious campaign” against Isa.

The protests were held after Isa granted bail to a member of the minority Ahmadi community who has been accused of blasphemy for distributing Islamic literature and been in jail for 13 months.

“I think there isn’t a bigger [example] of contempt of religion than to issue such statements in the name of a religion [Islam] which is one of mercy and blessings,” Asif told reporters at a news conference, commenting on the TLP member’s death threat against Isa. 

“The state will take action over it because this is all based on lies … The state will not accept dictation from any group in the name of religion, politics or someone’s self-interests.”

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who addressed the press conference with Asif, said issuing death threats was an act of “rebellion” not only against Pakistan’s constitution but also against Islam. 

“Pakistan has its courts, it has its law, and no person or group is allowed to issue fatwas [religious rulings] for anyone’s murder,” he said. “Because the right to reward or punish rests with the judiciary in a state.”

Iqbal accused the TLP of inciting hatred for political gains and urged the people of Pakistan not to pay heed to the party. 

A police report seen by Arab News showed a case had been filed on Sunday against TLP Vice Emir Pir Zaheerul Hasan Shah and other party members for incitement to violence against the chief justice. The police report invokes provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act, and others related to spreading religious hatred and anarchy, pressuring and threatening the higher judiciary, interference in state affairs, obstructing in performance of legal duties, among others.

Human rights groups say Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy laws are often misused to settle personal scores, and mere accusations have led to violence and mob justice in the past.