February 25, 2006	Saturday	Muharram 26, 1427

KARACHI, Feb 24: Many MPAs belonging to the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on Friday participated in a demonstration led by Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim against a section of European press for carrying blasphemous caricatures.

PPP MPAs were conspicuous by their absence from the demonstration in which almost all the present treasury members took part. The participants noted with regret that despite strongest ever reaction from Muslims around the world against blasphemy, neither the section of press in question had neither tendered an apology not had it expressed any intention to do so. Rather, they condemned, the act of blasphemy was being defended as the freedom of expression.

The demonstration was staged on the stairs of the assembly building after the day’s proceedings were adjourned.

Earlier, the house reassembled at 11.15am after a break of 21 days in the current session, which has been requisitioned by the opposition. It took strong exception to the attitude of Denmark and certain other European countries viz-a-viz the sacrilegious caricatures. More than two dozen members from the treasury and opposition benches moved resolutions condemning the blasphemy and the offenders in strongest terms.

Chief Minister Arbab Rahim, Opposition leader Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, Planning Minister Shoaib Bokhari and minority member Mukesh Chawla were among the movers of such resolutions.

The speaker advised the movers to move a consensus resolution by clubbing together all of them as they appeared identical in nature, but Mr Shoaib Bokhari did not agree, indicating that certain resolutions presented by opposition members also contained a call for severing of ties with the countries at the centre of the controversy. He, accordingly, suggested adoption of a resolution presented by the treasury benches first, and taking up opposition members’ resolutions next. He said the opposition members could also join hands with the treasury in this regard.

The speaker cited Rule 110 which prohibits members from moving any resolution on a subject in the same session after the house gave its opinion on the subject.

Law Minister Iftikhar Chaudhry was of the view that the opposition should agree on the contents of the treasury’s resolution considering the sensitivity of the issue.

Syed Murad Ali Shah of PPP pointed out that in the treasury benches’ resolution, the Rule 104/2 had not been complied with as was the case of the earlier resolution adopted by the house on the subject.

Mr Khuhro suggested that while 15 resolutions had already been read out, it would be pertinent to allow movers to speak on their resolutions before calling for the division.

Dr Arbab made a strong appeal to the opposition not to make the most sensitive and highly esteemed issue of blasphemy an issue of discord, pointing out that the entire Ummah had the same feeling on it. He also invited the opposition to join in the treasury benches’ demonstration which was to be staged after the day’s proceedings outside the assembly building.

The chief minister offered the treasury members’ participation in the opposition’s walk on Monday from the assembly building up to the Karachi Press Club against the blasphemous caricatures.

Opposition leader Mr Khuhro accepted the chief minister’s invitation and the offer, but added that the walk would be held up to the Governor’s House.

He also insisted on adopting the opposition’s resolutions in full, indicating that the earlier resolution passed by the house had gone unnoticed as it did not include the demand of severing ties with the offender countries.

After Mr Khuhro’s speech, the chair called it a day at 12.45pm. The house will meet again on Monday.

When the chair gave floor to the Leader of the House Dr Arbab Rahim, as he was the first to move a resolution, he advised the opposition benches not to exhaust their energies in pressing the government to sever diplomatic relations with the European countries where blasphemous caricatures were published by some newspapers.

He expressed the view that such an extreme action against the European countries at this juncture was premature, and pointed out that the issue of blasphemy was being taken up by President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at appropriate forums.

He told the house that the president had also discussed the issue with the Chinese leadership during his visit to that country. There was every possibility of the situation taking a better turn, he added.

Dr Arbab said that the blasphemous sketches had been published several months back but the strong reaction around the world was prompted by the distribution of the material in Saudi Arabia on the occasion of Haj.

He told the opposition: “Our objective is common. There may hardly be any district, town or village where protest rallies were not held against this blasphemous act. This does not reflect any leader’s popularity or such other things, but the depth of faith and sentiments of the faithful.” As such, he added, people’s sentiments and reaction should not be used to score points against the government.

He observed that a conspiracy was being hatched against the whole Ummah and should be countered squarely.

Dr Arbab pointed out that his government had not tried to block any rally or prevent anyone from taking part in the protests. Nor did it intend to do so. However, he added, the rallies must be peaceful. He also stressed on staging protests in a manner that the normal life was not affected. In this context, he suggested that a venue be designated for the purpose to ensure that people did not suffer due to the rallies and demonstrations.

The chief minister noted with regret that two churches were burnt in Sukkur and the holy Bible was desecrated during the violence sparked off by the desecration of the holy Quran. He told the house that FIRs had been registered against the followers of both the religions under the same clauses without any discrimination to ensure justice.

Referring to the demand of a boycott of the products of offender European countries, Dr Arbab said that instead of seeking an official ban, people should stop using such products. He said he himself had imposed an unofficial ban on use of the products from the countries at the Chief Minister’s House. He said that the voluntary boycott was proving effective and several of these countries had come out with apology. Nevertheless, he added, the government might take a decision about official boycott at an appropriate time.

The speaker then asked Leader of the Opposition Nisar Ahmad Khuhro to speak on his resolution.

Mr Khuhro explained various aspects of the resolution’s contents and said that the demand of severing ties was in accordance with the relevant rules. He said that the earlier resolution passed by the assembly proved ineffective as it did not contain an action against the offender countries.

He said that protests in Pakistan had forced Denmark to close its mission but it had taken the decision on its own, and not under any pressure or order by the government of Pakistan. He stressed on taking forceful action against the Danish government.

He observed that Pakistan, after becoming a key ally of the West in its war on terrorism, was being regarded as the most favourite country in the US, Europe and the rest of the world. As such, Muslim community around the world expects Pakistan to play its due role in the matter of the blasphemous act.

Mr Khuhro pointed out that minority MPAs had also moved a resolution on behalf of non-Muslims in Pakistan to condemn the publication of blasphemous sketches. “Neither our religion allows us to make fun of any other religion, nor would we allow anyone to make fun of our religion,” he remarked.

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