LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) senior leadership has condemned the blasphemous statements of BJP leaders regarding the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

In a joint statement on Monday, PML-Q president and former premier Chaudhry Shujaat Husain, Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and former minister Moonis Elahi said unless the culprit, who committed blasphemy, was not punished, Muslims would continue protest.

They said they were ready to sacrifice their lives, wealth and everything else for the Holy Prophet (PBHU).

“We cannot tolerate insult to the Khatam-un-Nabiyeen Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH) in any form,” he said.

Mr Elahi said eyes of the Arab world should be opened after the insulting statements of BJP leaders, particularly the UAE and other Arab countries should not only boycott Indian products, but also send the Indian labour back.

In India, he said, all minorities, including Muslims, Sikhs and Christians were the victims of Hindu extremism, because Hindutva was at its peak there. He said the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the UN should take notice of these statements.

Moonis said hatred might spread at the international level if such statements were not stopped. He said this heinous act had endangered the peace of the region and Modi government’s hatred for the Muslims stood exposed.

JI: The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has announced protest marches in front of the Indian embassy in Islamabad and all over the country on June 9 and 10 against the blasphemous comments.

JI Secretary-General Ameerul Azim said the JI chief Sirajul Haq would lead the march in Islamabad and also demanded the Pakistan government expel Indian diplomats from the country to send a clear message to New Delhi that anti-Islam acts of the BJP government were not acceptable to Pakistan.

He also read the JI emir’s message to Ummah for boycotting Indian products on the occasion.

Azim said the Pakistan government’s reaction to blasphemy was usually mild and against the expectations of the people.

Published in Dawn,June 7th, 2022