PESHAWAR, March 11: The publication of blasphemous cartoons in European newspapers has proved to be a ‘test’ of the reverence that Muslims have for their beloved Prophet (peace be upon him).

This was said by a Jamaat-i-Islami MNA, Raheela Qazi, at a Tahaffuz-i-Namoos Risalat conference organised by the JI’s women wing here at the Iranian cultural centre on Saturday.

She said anti-cartoon protests all over the Muslim world showed the West that Muslims were still alive and united.

The MNA alleged that some unpatriotic elements and ‘agencies’ had triggered violence during these protests to tarnish the image of religious and political parties that had given call for those demonstrations.

Referring to President George Bush’s visit, she said the United States and the rest of the West felt threatened by ‘fundamentalists’.

Mr Raheela, daughter of JI chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed, said that during his visit to Pakistan President Bush claimed that fundamentalists or political Islam would be eliminated. However, she added, such design against Muslims would fail.

Other speakers included Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s MPAs Zubaida Khatoon, Shagufta Naz, Sabira Shakira, Aftab Shabbir, JI nazima Shaheen Ghayur and MNA Razia Aziz.

They called for unity among Muslims and asked women to play their role and teach Islamic values to younger generation.

Awami National Party MPA Farah Aqil Shah said Muslims lacked the will to follow their religion and added that they had abandoned the path of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and were following western values.