February 28, 2008	Thursday	Safar 20 ,1429

KARACHI, Feb 27: The women wing of the Jamaat-i-Islami Karachi and members of the Diocese of Karachi Church held separate demonstrations on Wednesday at the Karachi Press Club against the publication of blasphemous cartoons in Denmark newspapers.

The participants of the demonstrations, holding banners and placards, called upon the United Nations to frame laws to prevent blasphemy of religions and revered personalities.

Speaking at the women’s rally, JI Karachi chief Mohammad Hussain Mehnati said the publication of the caricatures was an attack on the faith of Muslims and had caused unrest in the Islamic world.

He demanded that the government cut its diplomatic and trade ties with Demark and said that “The Muslim countries must take immediate notice of this grave issue and respond to it appropriately.”

Mr Mehnati recalled that the UN had determined the rights of women, children, prisoners, workers and other sections of society but so far had not made any declaration for the sanctity of religions.

Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said although demonstrations were being held throughout the world against the blasphemous cartoons, Muslim rulers and the OIC had not raised their voice against the sacrilege.

He said Pakistan was a fortress of Islam but “its rulers wanted to make it a slave to the west”.

Led by Bishop Sadiq Danial, participants of the second demonstration held banners condemning the publication of the cartoons and terming it a sinister conspiracy.