TIMERGARA, Sept 21: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Friday demanded that the United Nations and the US punish the maker of the anti-Islam film.

Addressing a public meeting of the ruling Awami National Party here, Mr Hussain said the making of the anti-Islam film had hurt the sentiments of the followers of all faiths and the reaction of Muslims to the sacrilegious act was natural.

He, however, appealed to protesters to remain peaceful.

“Being a spokesman for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, I strongly condemn the making of the said film and its contents. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is respectable for all of us and we can’t tolerate such a sacrilegious film,” he said, adding that makers of the said film should be punished.

Mr Hussain said the government condemned both the drone attacks and suicide bombing. “People involved in both these acts are our enemies,” he said asking religious leaders to publicly condemn suicide bombing in the region.

Without naming militants, the minister said they should take revenge directly from the US not from the innocent Pukhtuns. About the frequent cross-border militant attacks, he said it showed that either Nato and Isaf forces had lost control on militants based in Afghanistan or they were supporting them (militants).

Mr Hussain it was ANP that dared to counter militants, while none of the political parties could do so.

He said the region had been confronted with critical situation, which was likely to worsen in future.

About the clash between parliament and the judiciary, the minister said ANP respected the courts but wanted to make it clear that parliament was the supreme institution.

Provincial livestock minister Haji Hidayatullah, Senator Zahid Khan, ANP Dir president Hussain Shah Yousafzai, general secretary Ayub Khan and local leader Malik Iftikhar Ahmad also addressed the public meeting. —Correspondent