KARACHI, Feb 26: A central leader of the Jafaria Alliance, Senator Allama Abbas Kumaili, on Thursday demanded an apology from a publishing house also owning a TV channel, for hurting religious sentiments of the Shia community.

Referring to a religious programme, Abbas Kumaili said the channel had aired offending programmes in the past also. Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, he also demanded live air time to put across the viewpoint of the Shia community on the mourning practice observed during Muharram.

He warned that if the apology was not tendered within 48 hours, the Shia community would boycott the publishing house. Criticizing the TV programme, the Jamaat-i-Islami also demanded an immediate end to the programme in question.

In a statement faxed to Dawn, the JI said the programme was hurting religious sentiments and distorting the image of Islam. In the meantime, the Pasban-i-Aza announced that it would take out a protest procession from the Kharadar Jamia Masjid after Friday prayers to register protest against the TV channel.

This was announced at the end of the fifth-Muharram majlis addressed by Allama Talib Jauhari at Nishtar Park on Thursday evening. Earlier, on Wednesday at the culmination of the fourth-Muharram Majlis at Nishtar Park, a procession comprising hundreds of mourners was taken out to register protest against the TV programme.

The procession marching on M.A. Jinnah Road and Zaibunnisa Street and culminated at the Karachi Press Club. The speakers at the rally had demanded that the TV channel issue an apology for offending the Shia community.