PESHAWAR, Sept 17: Continuing with their protest against the production of an anti-Islam film in the US, people on Monday staged rallies against the sacrilegious act in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the capital city.

In Peshawar, students blocked roads suspending traffic for long hours, while political parties and other groups, too, took to the streets in different parts of the city.

Tariq Afridi and Jamil Afridi of Afridi Students Union, Mohammad Israr of Islamia Law College and Zakir Afridi of Pakhtun Students Federation led the students’ rally.

The procession taken out by the minority wing of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf was led by Abbas Khalil and Asif Yousaf, while provincial leaders Intikhab Khan Chamkani, Zakaullah and Saleem Shah led Pakistan Muslim League-Q rally.

After marching through the city, protesters reached the Cantonment Railway Station, where they demonstrated against the US government for not arresting the maker of the blasphemous film.

Holding placards and banners, they shouted anti-US slogans and called for the public hanging of the filmmaker.

Speakers told protesters that in the recent past, it was for the third time that religious sentiments of Muslims had been hurt by non-Muslims, especially Jews, through sacrilegious acts.

They showed anger at the silence of Muslim leaders on the matter.

The speakers urged Muslims across the world to get united under the current critical circumstances to effectively respond to the conspiracies being hatched against Islam.

In Swat valley, a complete shutdown strike was observed in various bazaars against the making of the anti-Islam film.

People from different walks of life, including traders, gathered at Nishat Chowk in large numbers to stage a rally against the filmmaker and the US.

Shouting slogans against the US, they demanded death penalty for the filmmaker. They also pushed the government for severing diplomatic ties with the US before expelling its ambassador.

In Charsadda, traders, students, political workers and social welfare organisations took out separate rallies against the making of the sacrilegious film.

Traders of in Charsadda Bazaar observed a shutter down strike and staged a rally on the call of Muttahida Shopkeeper Federation.

The lawyers boycotted courts before demonstrating at Farooq Azam Chowk.

In Bannu, students, traders and political workers separately protested the making of the anti-Islam film.

Protesters shouted slogans against the US and set on fire the effigy of its President Obama. They demanded that Muslims boycott the UN and strengthen Organsiation of Islamic Countries.

In Karak, Tehsil Bar Association of Takht-i-Nusrati boycotted local courts with lawyers urging the government to convene an emergency meeting of OIC to develop a consensus on how to effectively counter anti-Islam acts.

They also demanded that Islamic countries sever diplomatic relations with western world.

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...