PESHAWAR: People from different walks of life held protest rallies across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday against the desecration of Holy Quran in Sweden.

The legal fraternity also observed one-day strike across the province on the call of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council to condemn the incident.

In Peshawar, activists of various political parties and civil society organisations gathered outside Peshawar Press Club and set on fire Swedish flag.

The protesters condemned desecration of the Holy Quran and termed it intolerable. They demanded of the government to sever diplomatic relations with Sweden.

Protesters ask govt to sever diplomatic ties with Sweden

The legal fraternity boycotted courts proceedings and held an emergency meeting at the barroom of Peshawar High Court. The participants of the meeting through a unanimously approved resolution demanded of the federal government to end diplomatic relations with Swedish government.

The lawyers, holding banners and placards, also took out a protest procession from the high court to Justice Chowk and set on fire the flag of Sweden.

The protesters were led by Peshawar High Court Bar Association president Tariq Afridi, general secretary Lajbar Khan, Peshawar District Bar Association president Ashfaq Khalil and other office-bearers. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council vice chairman Zar Badshah and chairman of executive committee Syed Mubashir Shah also condemned the sacrilegious incident.

Another rally was taken out under the aegis of Pakistan Rah-i-Haq Party from Landi Arbab to Peshawar Press Club. The activists of Ehsas Welfare Organisation also staged a protest demonstration and condemned the desecration of the Holy Quran.

Idara Tablighul Islam in a meeting held here with its president Syed Zahir Ali Shah also condemned the incident and described it a challenge for United Nations to take action against the perpetrators under the relevant rules. The women wing of Pakistan Peoples Party also condemned the incident. PPP workers held a meeting with their provincial president Senator Rubeena Khalid in the chair and urged federal government to sever diplomatic ties with Sweden at least to record its protest.

The members of Anjuman-i-Tajiran held a rally outside Sunehri Masjid on GT Road and set on fire the flag of Sweden.

The members of business community and civil society groups also held a joint rally at Government College Chowk and raised slogans against the Swedish government.

All Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association chairman Minhajud Din and Anjuman-i-Patwaryan and Qanoon Goyan in separate statements also condemned the incident and stressed the need for concrete steps to stop such acts in future.

Different political parties and organisations also held rallies in Swat, Lower Dir, Bajaur and other districts of the province to condemn the incident.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2023