Cleric suspended over pics

A HIGH-PROFILE Pakistani cleric who posed for selfies with a controversial model famed for her suggestive photos has been suspended from a senior government commit- tee, the country’s religious affairs ministry said, rebuking him for his behaviour.

Mufti Abdul Qavi was removed last Wednesday (22) from the country’s moon-sighting committee which decides when the ongoing holy month of Ramadan begins and ends, according to a notification issued by the ministry.

The suspension comes after he was widely ridiculed when social media starlet Qandeel Baloch – who is a deeply polarising figure in the country – uploaded the pictures earlier last week along with a video of herself with the preacher, wearing his hat and pouting.

Baloch, known in the country as a Kim Kardashian type figure who frequently posts seminude selfies, later called Qavi “a blot on the name of Is- lam” and accused him of inappropriate behaviour.

Qavi was also suspended as a member of the Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf opposition party, which is led by cricketer- turned-politician Imran Khan, a former socialite who became more religious after his retirement as a sportsman.

“Mufti Qavi’s fate will be decided after the opinion of the (National religious scholars) Council regarding his selfies and behaviour,” a spokes- man for the minis- try told Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper last Wednesday (22).