KARACHI, Feb 22: A large number of protestors held a protest demonstration in front of the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday against the publication of blasphemous cartoons in European newspapers.
The demonstration was organized by the Shia Ulema and Zakireen from the platform of the Shia Ulema Council Pakistan. It was addressed by prominent Shia leaders including Allama Hasan Turabi, Allama Qanber Abbas Naqvi and others.
Protestors were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the publication of blasphemous cartoons in European newspapers. They also chanted slogans against the blasphemous act and the persons responsible for it.
They vowed to sacrifice their lives for Tahaffuz-i-Namoos-i-Risalat (SAW).
The protestors demanded severing of diplomatic ties with countries where the blasphemous material was published and called for exemplary punishment to those involved.
Angry youths burned the flags of Denmark, the United States and Israel and also chanted slogans against US President Bush, “Down with US”, and “Israel unacceptable”.
Speaking on the occasion, Allama Hasan Turabi said the publication of blasphemous cartoons was entirely unacceptable to the Muslim Ummah, adding that a joint and unanimous strategy should be adopted in this regard to prevent reoccurrence of such incidents in the future.
They called for severing diplomatic ties with Denmark, Norway, Spain and other countries whose papers had published the blasphemous cartoons, appealed for a boycott of products of these countries, and international action against those denying apology for the acts of their papers.
Speakers also denounced the bomb attack on a holy shrine in the Iraqi city of Samarra. They announced three days of mourning in the country against the heinous act.
CHRISIANS PROTEST: Members of a Christian organization, the Herald of Peace Karachi Father Joseph Paul and Father Thomas Gulfam, strongly condemned the publication of the sacrilegious sketches of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and called it an insensitive and irresponsible act.
They said Christianity believed in respecting all prophets, all holy books and all places of worship, and the Catholic Bishops of Pakistan had jointly raised their voice against the blasphemous act by Denmark and other European countries.
Father Joseph Paul said the Christian community in Pakistan was very much hurt and dismayed over the unfortunate incident of torching of two churches in Sukkur.
He said no Christian had desecrated the Holy Quran but added that some evil-minded people had falsely accused Christians, which resulted in the torching of churches and property.
Father Thomas Gulfam accused the police and law enforcing agencies of negligence from stopping the miscreants from destroying holy worship places. They thanked the government for sympathizing and vowed to serve Pakistan.
WORKERS PROTEST: The National Labour Federation (NLF) and the KESC Employees’ Namoos-i-Risalat (SAW) Action Committee jointly staged a protest demonstration on Wednesday on the Abdullah Haroon Road in Saddar against the publication of blasphemous cartoons in European papers.
Protest leaders asked the people to boycott products of the countries where the offending cartoons were published and demanded an apology.
They said they would never tolerate any act of blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), adding that they would sacrifice their lives to uphold the honour and sanctity of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
They said the publication of the blasphemous sketches had sent a wave of shock, grief and anger across the Islamic world. They said the freedom of expression did not mean trampling of values, ethics or laws.
JI-CHRISTIANS’ MEETING: The Jamaat-i-Islami and the Christian community on Wednesday condemned the desecration of a copy of the Holy Quran and burning of churches in Sukkur. They demanded that such incidents should be investigated by a judge of the Supreme Court.
The demand came in a joint meeting of the JI and representatives of the Christian community in Karachi.
The meeting was addressed by Amir JI Karachi Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui, the Vice-Bishop, Church of Pakistan, Bishop Raj Kumar Rehmat Masih, Father Gulfam, Priest Seet Gul, Pastor Dr Javed Rabi, Priest Emmanuel Victor, Father Jay Paul, Saleem Michael and minority member in the city council Younus Khan advocate.
The speakers vowed to maintain unity and harmony between Muslims and the Christian community in the country. They held the federal and provincial governments responsible for the Sukkur incidents.—PPI
KARACHI, Feb 22: A large number of protestors held a protest demonstration in front of the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday against the publication of blasphemous cartoons in European newspapers.
