ISLAMABAD, March 7: Hund-reds of activists of Jamaat-i-Islami and Imamia Students Organisation on Friday held protest demonstrations against the re-production of sacrilegious caricatures in a Danish newspaper and release of an ‘anti-Islam’ film in Holland.

The protesters demanded Muslim countries in general and Pakistan in particular to sever diplomatic ties with both the countries and boycott all their products to force them to tender an official apology.

About three hundreds activists of ISO walked from Jamia Masjid Sector G-6/2 and reached the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club camp office chanting slogans against what they called Europe’s anti- Islam policies.

The protesters were holding banners and waving placards against the two countries. They were also chanting slogans like “Down with Danish and Dutch governments” and “Down with USA and Israel”. The protesters also torched the flags of Denmark and Israel.

Addressing the demonstrators, Alama Akhtar Abbas, Khateeb Markazi Jamia Masjid; Alama Amin Shahidi, Ali Komail Haider and others condemned the blasphemous acts by the Danish newspaper and release of the sacrilegious film in Holland. They also termed the blasphemous acts a conspiracy against Islam.

The protesters called upon all political and religious parties and scholars to chalk out a policy to stop the Western propaganda against Islam. They urged the government to send back the Danish ambassador in protest against the publication of the blasphemous caricatures.

Meanwhile, addressing protesters at Faisal Masjid, JI chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed condemned what he said the anti-Islam policies of the West. However, he also spoke elaborately on domestic politics.

He said the people of Pakistan would reject the new political government if it failed to restore the pre-November judiciary and 1973 Constitution and bring a no-confidence move against President Musharraf.

He asked leaders of the political parties which won majority in the general elections to stop holding meetings with US officials.

He said the Pakistani people had given their verdict against the policies of the United States by electing anti-Musharraf people. The real test of the political parties, he added, would begin when they would start reversing the unconstitutional steps of the previous government.

He also condemned the recent Israeli aggression against the Palestinians.

Yaqoob Malik from Attock adds: Hundreds of religious leaders and activists staged a protest demonstration against the publication of the blasphemous caricatures in the Danish newspaper.

The protest rally led by Maulana Mohammad Saddiq was taken out from Masjid Loharan after Friday prayers. Later, the protesters gathered at Fowara Chowk where they burnt an effigy of US President George Bush.

The speakers asked the West to initiate action against such newspapers beside tendering unequivocal apology, so that no one can take liberty to print blasphemous material under the guise of press freedom.