Anti-Charlie Hebdo protesters storm Bannu Christian school
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PESHAWAR: Hundreds of students protesting against a French magazine for publishing blasphemous cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) stormed a Christian boys' school demanding its closure, officials and police said Tuesday.
Four students were slightly hurt in the incident in the town of Bannu on Monday, which happened as students from local colleges and schools demonstrated against the cartoons printed in French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.
“A group of some 200 to 300 protesting students entered Panel High School after jumping its outer walls and forcibly opened the gates,” school principal Fredrick Farhan Das said.
| Protests continue across Pakistan |
He said the students who wanted the school to be shut damaged the property and smashed windows.
“This caused kind of a stampede, which slightly injured four students,” Das said.
He said the school remained closed on Tuesday in protest against the incident and will re-open on Wednesday.
District police officer Abdul Rashid Khan confirmed the incident but said it was not thought to be an anti-Christian attack.
Two gunmen stormed the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo earlier this month, killing 12 people.
The magazine then published a “survivors” issue with another cover, triggering a wave of angry condemnation and protest in Muslim-majority countries across the world.
At least three people were injured on January 16 when protesters and police clashed at an anti-Charlie Hebdo demonstration outside the French consulate in Karachi.
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Comments (118) Closed
Jan 27, 2015 07:16pm
How could you allow students to protest!!!
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Jan 27, 2015 07:16pm
Shame on us. We worry about the world's issue so much that we become sick, but on the other hand our own people are so socially under developed and in-apt that will destroy our own selves. Shame on us.
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Jan 27, 2015 07:18pm
They should all be tried in military court. Enough of this nonsense.
Besides they should be in school learning how to spell "Charli" correctly
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Jan 27, 2015 07:19pm
So what exactly have the poor people of Bannu's Christian did exactly now? Jail the mullah's who are teaching these children this hatred.
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Jan 27, 2015 07:20pm
Religious brainwashing is the problem in Muslim countries, not Charlie Hebdo. No rational thinking at all. It is this hatred, and persecution of minorities in Islamic countries that justify the existence of satirical cartoons on Islam.
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Jan 27, 2015 07:21pm
Nonsense, stupid and totally uncalled for reaction. What does the school have to do with the French magazine?
Also, these self-appointed defenders of the faith forgot the Christian rally against the caricatures. Shameful.
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Jan 27, 2015 07:23pm
Am I mistaken or all the students were ARABS!!!!!!
This protest in front of a Christian School shows the TOLERANCE LEVEL of the organizers of the protest.
I hate this word Tolerance because of all its negative connotations, why can we not use equal acceptance instead of Tolerance to describe our feelings for people of other faiths?
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Jan 27, 2015 07:24pm
I think you can do better.
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Jan 27, 2015 07:25pm
'District police officer Abdul Rashid Khan confirmed the incident but said it was not thought to be an anti-Christian attack"
They stormed a CHRISTIAN school. How is that not an anti-Christian attack.
It appears KPK govt is doing a brilliant job of securing educational premises. Oh wait this must be one of those conspiracies that allegedly get hatched against PTI every now and then
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Jan 27, 2015 07:26pm
What do the Christians school in Bannu has to do with Charlie Hebdo?
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Jan 27, 2015 07:26pm
Why protesting Christian school. This is illetracy, and Government should protect Christian School.
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Jan 27, 2015 07:27pm
And what did the police do? Did they arrest anyone? And why exactly are these boys in the picture wearing Arabic dresses?
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Jan 27, 2015 07:29pm
Disgraceful
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Jan 27, 2015 07:35pm
Very sad!
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Jan 27, 2015 07:36pm
What a Christian school in Bannu has to do with cartoons published in Franc?. Where is the government ? Why is it not protecting the minorities who live in our country. People should be allowed to express their protest but they should not be allowed to damage the properties and cause harm. These people need to be arrested and held accountable
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Jan 27, 2015 07:36pm
Racism, Islamophobia, etc........is this what you say when something like this happens in France or any other Western countries......
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Jan 27, 2015 07:36pm
Seems these people have no constructive value
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Jan 27, 2015 07:38pm
.......and we ask "kyun Obama Pakistan nahin aate......"
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Jan 27, 2015 07:40pm
Where is the Government of KPK? It is their job to protect each and everyone irrespective of their religious affiliation.
They better intervene and stop this otherwise it will become another serious issue for Pakistan.
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Jan 27, 2015 07:41pm
Not good at all. They're innocent kid's and got nothing to do with Charlie Habdo. God's help them.
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Jan 27, 2015 07:47pm
after shocks but not good
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Jan 27, 2015 07:48pm
If this is the mindset leave Obama.. no one will come to Pakistan. Pakistan needs to put these people behind bars for some day to give the message to society. What the school children in Bannu has to do with France's Charlie Hebdo...
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Jan 27, 2015 07:49pm
It is a test case for the entire nation.
Violence against school children should not be allowed, whether those students belong to any faith.
Since the army took the attack on Army Public very seriously, the army should also take a stand and stand with the children of Christian school.
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Jan 27, 2015 07:51pm
This is NOT Islam.
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Jan 27, 2015 07:53pm
It is a test case for the entire nation.
Violence against school children should not be allowed, whether those students belong to any faith.
Since the army took the attack on Army Public very seriously, the army should also take a stand and stand with the children of Christian school.
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Jan 27, 2015 07:53pm
jahalat at its peak. This is exactly the issue with majority of Muslims all over the world. Their emotional reaction causes more damage to the religion than anything else. What Charlie did was wrong but what reaction came from Muslims was horrible. There are other ways to show dissent and protest the Charlie's wrong doing instead of start shooting people. Given the western society and their culture it will encourage them more. If the Muslim world felt so strong about this, then they should have handled this at a political and national level like should have called their ambassadors back, should have imposed some sanctions etc. But unfortunately when all Muslim countries are dependent upon the West and are not strong enough, there is nothing you can do.
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Jan 27, 2015 07:54pm
Facepalm
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Jan 27, 2015 07:54pm
These children hold they key to Pakistan's future. Their thought processes would define and shape the kind of Pakistan that one wants. Can some enlightened souls out there stand up and stop these children's minds being corrupted any further? When they grow up they ought to co-exist peacefully in a multi-cultural and multi-religious environment where social skills are extremely important. If you have a disagreement over something you have a right to express it, and there is a way to do it.
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Jan 27, 2015 07:54pm
Open your eyes.. Understand all human beings are children of God. Make your kids understand to have religious tolerence, love their neighbours and friends, don't get into any form of violence.
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Jan 27, 2015 07:55pm
The report says "District police officer Abdul Rashid Khan confirmed the incident but said it was not thought to be an anti-Christian attack". Did any journalist have the common sense to ask who it was aimed at then?
Why as a nation do we remain in denial about the cancer in our midst.
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Jan 27, 2015 07:55pm
There were protests against PK film in India but not a single theatre was damaged..
Although feelings of the protesters were hurt (according to them ) by the satire on their Gods in the film.
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Jan 27, 2015 07:59pm
Can someone tell what is the outfit that these protestors wearing? Is it some special uniform?
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Jan 27, 2015 08:00pm
this is disgraceful and disrespectful.
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Jan 27, 2015 08:06pm
This makes absolutely no sense. Christians have nothing to do with Charlie Hebdo, in fact, Charlie Hebdo makes fun of Christianity as much or more than anything else. This is senseless violence
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Jan 27, 2015 08:07pm
Can somebody tell these ignorant people Charlie had nothing to do Christianity , ppl who drew those cartoons were not Christians,, they atheist ie ppl who don't believe in any religion..
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Jan 27, 2015 08:08pm
Arrest protest organizers immediately !!! What islam is this ???
Allowing such incidents to go by without any consequences emboldens these lunatics.!
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Jan 27, 2015 08:08pm
The District police officer thought that it wasn't an anti-Christian attack.
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Jan 27, 2015 08:08pm
I guess their teachers or news media , did not tell them that Pope is on their side on this issue.
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Jan 27, 2015 08:09pm
Why are these students not in ttheir classrooms?? And what is that they are wearing.Who told them to leave their studies and barge in a Christian school.Taking law in their hands at such an early stage,why would they fear anyone when they grow up.
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Jan 27, 2015 08:12pm
Such deeds are distancing the worls from Islam teachers. The protesters are showing characterlessness of high degree. If they have the least connscious still alive they should visit the students of the Christain School and show their repentence of what they have dpicted in the name Islam.
May be the School Management was against the French Publication and has shown the dislike in their own way. !
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Jan 27, 2015 08:16pm
Please keep children out of this. That's why they become extremists and follow terrorism cz they are brought up in an intolerant society.
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Jan 27, 2015 08:16pm
Such deeds are distancing the worls from Islam teachers. The protesters are showing characterlessness of high degree. If they have the least connscious still alive they should visit the students of the Christain School and show their repentence of what they have dpicted in the name Islam.
May be the School Management was against the French Publication and has shown the dislike in their own way. !
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Jan 27, 2015 08:27pm
We cant expect better things than this from Pakistani mullas......
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Jan 27, 2015 08:27pm
Useless article.. This article just shows Pakistan is still engrossed in the boundaries of religion..As human be against every massacre, whether attack on Army school, IS indiscriminate killing. Morality is not about getting into selective bias... Huh.. get up dear... Look beyond religion
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Jan 27, 2015 08:34pm
There was no massive protest in Pakistan against Peshawar massacre yet there is protest after protest by all parties including mainstream political parties against Charlie Hebdo in all cities across the country. All provincial and national legislatures have passed meaningless motions as well.
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Jan 27, 2015 08:35pm
What do the Christians school has to do with Charlie Hebdo? Will the army or government take any action
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Jan 27, 2015 08:35pm
@Sunil what do charlie hebdo has to do with islam????
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Jan 27, 2015 08:40pm
What are the authorities doing?....who planned this protest after more than 2 weeks after charlie hebdo events?...these protests only fuel fanaticism. The madrassas need regulation by the government....
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Jan 27, 2015 08:41pm
No other outcome is possible to the path that the people of Pakistan have chosen for themselves.
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Jan 27, 2015 08:48pm
All done on the behest of illiterate mullah who themselves are no way near and in reality School has nothing to do with the Magazine.
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Jan 27, 2015 08:50pm
Very unfortunate for the minorities in Pakistan. This is the time when Muslim can show themselves that they belongs to a peaceful Religion and tell the world that Islam is not too fragile.
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Jan 27, 2015 08:56pm
Pakistan is founded on only religious basis so protecting Islam is the duty of every Pakistani.
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Jan 27, 2015 09:06pm
A disgusting and bad incident aimed at creating disunity among the people, created by the Christian rally against the weekly and express solidarity with Muslims.
Seems to be an act of mischief mongers on others behalf.
The organizers be grilled over this incident for their failure to contain their unruly participants.
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Jan 27, 2015 09:08pm
Christian students are also Pakistani and they have nothing to do with Charlie Hebdo. They are as scared as Muslims in other part of the world. Please stop this type of protest against minorities in Pakistan. Pakistani Christian live with us and they are one of us.
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Jan 27, 2015 09:13pm
This is NOT Pakistan. This is just actions of a few handful of people.
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Jan 27, 2015 09:23pm
Unless we learn to respect other religions in the same way we want followers of other religions to respect ours. How, these so called students, get the time to demonstrate. Should they not be in classes?.
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Jan 27, 2015 09:23pm
uncivilised. This is Pakistan
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Jan 27, 2015 09:26pm
The explanation of Obama's not coming at Pakistan and of the Chinese Head is well depicted many a times ,now once again. We get the result as per our own action.In a nutshell it is very disappointing for the subcontinent.
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Jan 27, 2015 09:38pm
If you love our Prophet Do what our Prophet would have done.
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Jan 27, 2015 09:39pm
Pakistani don't even know what they r doing.
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Jan 27, 2015 09:41pm
@jen You must see the condemnation message from all quarters. When you wrote these comments then you are not different
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Jan 27, 2015 09:44pm
What has Christians of Pakistan to do with Charlie Hebdo? Shame on the organizers who led it to the school of fellow Pakistanis...
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Jan 27, 2015 09:48pm
@Ina Inda : Uncivilized? The definition of civilized/uncivilized is relative. If you think that standing on the side walk in public, kissing lips, pinching butts and biting ears is a freedom of expression in a civilized world, then we in Pakistan are OK to be uncivilized. I don't condone what these kids are doing but I don't think they are 'uncivilized'.
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Jan 27, 2015 09:52pm
Sad. This nation needs to get mature now. What have to do Charlie Abdo with Christian school in Bannu?
We should take all possible measurements to ensure minorities in Pakistan.
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Jan 27, 2015 09:56pm
They need mental help. The Christians of Pakistan protested against the cartoons and did so peacefully. Arrest these hooligans
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Jan 27, 2015 10:00pm
I doubt they have ever seen the cartoons and the message on it
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Jan 27, 2015 10:03pm
Education is the answer to all evils.
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Jan 27, 2015 10:03pm
So sad to see such young and naive children being used
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Jan 27, 2015 10:11pm
Je suis Charlie .
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Jan 27, 2015 10:14pm
After reading comments one is at least assured that humanity is still alive in this land of pure.
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Jan 27, 2015 10:15pm
I support these protests.
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Jan 27, 2015 10:18pm
"District police officer Abdul Rashid Khan confirmed the incident but said it was not thought to be an anti-Christian attack."
I am so sorry...what would it take for you to know that it was directed towards Christians? A couple of them burnt alive?
For heavens' sake, look at the reality. Do you see Turkey, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, India carrying out such insane protests? When are these same folks take out protests at the injustices, crimes and cruelties inflicted on our own people right in front of our eyes.
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Jan 27, 2015 10:21pm
What does Christianity have to do with those cartoons? 80% of the non Muslim French population is secular. Napoleon opposed the Catholic Church, and after the destruction of World War II much of Europe lost faith in God.
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Jan 27, 2015 10:23pm
In my opinion the only difference in this attack on school and Army Public School in Peshawar is that these students didn't kill anyone just for being in a Christian run school, however the act would have terrorized children and teachers in school hence they all should be booked under Anti Terrorism Act.
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Jan 27, 2015 10:25pm
"stormed the school"....what is the difference between the terrorists who attacked the schools and these people . Look at the people in these pics, all are brainwashed fundamentalists . No need to write "we are muslims" in placards , keep it to yourself , It is not something you should be proud of , it is something you should be ashamed of .
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Jan 27, 2015 10:25pm
Pakistani Christians have no correlation with French cartoonists. Why do PAKISTANI Muslims associate Western World with Christianity? Most of the Westerners are either atheists or agnostics. Please leave alone poor Christians in Pakistan.
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Jan 27, 2015 10:25pm
We shower love to people, we receive love in return. We shower hatred, we receive world hatred, and will continue to do so. We as a nation are sick, we need a huge dose of love to recover from hate filled body, mind and soul.
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Jan 27, 2015 10:35pm
@Inside man i appreciate Dawn.com for publishing this comment. i hope this person is safe and will be safe in future
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Jan 27, 2015 10:48pm
Come on Pakistan people. Stop harassing our Pakistani minority Christians. Protect them for God Sake.
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Jan 27, 2015 10:51pm
The religion Islam can take care of itself, no need to protect it. This is totally against the basic tenets of Islam, which means 'Peace'. Peace to the all humanity, all mankind.
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Jan 27, 2015 10:53pm
In Pakistan the land of the pure it not strange.
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Jan 27, 2015 10:55pm
Do they know the rights of minorities in Islam. This is insane and totally against the basic core value of Islam.
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Jan 27, 2015 10:59pm
Islam means 'Peace'. First thing first, humanity comes first in deen and not religious bigotry.
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Jan 27, 2015 11:21pm
Shame on the teachers who taught these raiding students. They crossed all limits of common sense. These teachers did not tell these misguided students that the french journal insults Christianity and Hazrat Issa as well. It is for these reason we demand replacement of all madaris by government schools.
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Jan 27, 2015 11:44pm
It is not fair to hold some one else responsible for the acts of some one else! We owe an apology to our minorities.
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Jan 28, 2015 12:08am
Shame on us for attacking our own. We are no more Muslims but junkies being high on extremism.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:08am
If we seriously want to change the face of country for good, we nee to educate people
especially about a mere sense of TOLERANCE. If not then we are DOOMED.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:09am
What the government is doing to cancel the registration of Madaris which preaches hatred and intolerance, which is against Islam. A pluralistic society can't have such Madrasas which brainwashes young minds into violence and serves as recruits to extremist elements like TTP and banned outfits. Hadith reads 'seek knowledge even if you have to go to cheen(china)'. Which clearly shows the knowledge of 'deen and dunya' are both vital.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:17am
Who is supporting them.
A government within the government.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:54am
Poor Christians are easy target in Pakistan....Nothing But Shame!!!
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Jan 28, 2015 01:57am
Is they are Pakistani school students dress code ....
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Jan 28, 2015 02:03am
Pakistani Christians are protesting alongside Muslims but still they are under attack...Where is the Police and the so-called leaders.
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Jan 28, 2015 02:20am
Yesterday the religious leaders appreciated the stand taken by the Pope against the publication of Charlie Hebdo. Today the religious students are attacking a Christian school.
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Jan 28, 2015 02:20am
@Hammad Rauf Reading your reply tells me you are a wise person.
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Jan 28, 2015 02:21am
We have already seen time and time again wrath of God but we still not learning. These acts of injustice and cruelty will destroy us. We still have time to repent and ask Almighty God for forgiveness.
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Jan 28, 2015 02:39am
@Ash Well said. I attended a catholic school in Karachi. Over 90 percent of the enrolled students were Muslim. The Christian students had to leave the class during Islamiyat period - in a catholic school. Would we be so accommodating to Christian students in our schools?
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Jan 28, 2015 02:43am
And according to some leading maulanas the Govt dare not touch any of the madaris these students belong to
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Jan 28, 2015 03:16am
What is there to protest? It's a cartoon. If the Prophet PBUH or Allah disapprove then they know how to exact retribution.
Who appointed you as the middleman?
if this action is not blasphemy then I don't know what is.
Pretending that you speak for God and his Last Prophet is the severest form of blasphemy.
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Jan 28, 2015 04:05am
Charlie Hebdo published a cartoon, no where except in Pakistan religious parties are in the streets. Saudis , Egyptians, Morrocans, Algerians even Indonesia & Mylasia are quiet. Pope of Rome has strongly condemned publisher of Charlie Hebdo. What more these mullahs want ? Why are they after their fellow Pakistanis who happened to be Christians.
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Jan 28, 2015 04:08am
Where is the PTI Government ? And then He wants to be the Prime Minister
of Pakistan when He cannot rule KP and protect its citizens. SHAME ON IMRAN
KHAN AND HIS GOVERNMENT OF KP.
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Jan 28, 2015 04:37am
@Nafisa Chalchal I'm sorry but you seems to have a very limited notion of 'freedom of speech'. French intellectual elite is totally opposed to what Charlie Hebdo did. FYI, all media houses and news papers showed their sympathy for the French journalists who got killed by the terrorists but at the same time, they all decided Not to publish the same hate material (except one Australian journal that actually did publish the same controversial stuff). Can you see the thin line now?
The famous French comedian Dieudonné is banned from all medias houses and newspapers because he played a comedy sketch on orthodox Jews six years ago. Unfortunately the same rule of freedom of speech was not applied to him... Why? I let you meditate on this!
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Jan 28, 2015 04:43am
Why don't we show a peaceful protest, show the world we are better then them. When garbage was thrown on the prophet (pbuh), he didn't go hit or kill that person. Show some tolerance, it's not the fault of people living in Pakistan, just like it is not the fault of all Muslims when Muslim terrorist attack and kill.
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Jan 28, 2015 04:47am
This is so stupid to ask to close down the Christian's school for no apparent reason. These students and their leaders who are behind this , they should be men enough to go to France and try or close down Charlie's real office not the christian school in Bannu. We will find out their bravery otherwise they are the worst cowards in Bannu asking for School closure.
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Jan 28, 2015 04:51am
Now what to say about this country. the difference in ASP and this incident is no innocent kid lost life. Granted opportunity each one chanting slogans will pack their bags for france
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Jan 28, 2015 05:01am
It needs no rocket science to see the obvious that there has to be some one to organize this violence against the Christian school in Peshawar. If government has a serious National Action Plan (NAP), they should go after the key planners of this violence, arrest them and try them in military courts
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Jan 28, 2015 05:24am
@Hammad Rauf It's "inept".
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Jan 28, 2015 05:32am
@bilal Remember that it is Pakistan that you are talking about. Pakistan Zindabad.
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Jan 28, 2015 05:35am
Well in Nigeria they burnt down three Churches..
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Jan 28, 2015 05:39am
Some of these stuents will be the future leaders of Pakistan. Some of them are carryig signs " relase Quadri". Now you can foresee the future of Pakistan, very dismal and scary.
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Jan 28, 2015 06:15am
What Charlie has to do with Christian schools? The rally is demonstration of intolerance among Pakistanis and it's an accepted reality within the country. The state, army and the religious elites all to be blamed for this fanatic approach. Every step Pakistan takes in this direction it goes back a decade in development.
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Jan 28, 2015 06:28am
what is those poor students don't understand is that the West is the one keeping Pakistan's lights ON
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Jan 28, 2015 06:31am
@Feroze Khan Pakistan Zindabad. They are making a dash toward stone-age.
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Jan 28, 2015 06:44am
all the politicians and their ancestors as well as present generation got educated at missionary schools
I don't see them doing anything for their schools or their teachers and friends
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Jan 28, 2015 07:29am
@Anon ...... 1/ For your kind info Obama knows very clearly if he goes to Pakistan he will not get hugs and he is definitely not welcomed in Pakistan for multiple reasons. 2/ Obama is struggling with congress to keep his own job for the past 6 years, he is not that powerful president to make decisions.on his own. 3/ Neither Pakistan can gain nor loose with Obama's visit to Pakistan. Hopefully, you get this.
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Jan 28, 2015 08:15am
What do you expect from uneducated halfwits?
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Jan 28, 2015 10:08am
it must not b happen again. when we could not raise our voice at international media then we start acting like this.
when Muslim schools are closed due to terrorism and when we ppl closed a school then what will u say about it?
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Jan 28, 2015 05:46pm
@Nafisa Chalchal you mean "In their country".
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Jan 29, 2015 08:04am
Why are these "arab students" disturbing Pakistani students and schools?
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