UK bans Bilour’s entry

E-Paper | June 12, 2026

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Federal Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour. — File Photo

PESHAWAR: Federal Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour has been barred by the British government from travelling to the UK in retaliation for the bounty he offered for the murder of a US filmmaker.

Talking to Dawn on Thursday, Mr Bilour shrugged off the ban and said he stood by his words more firmly now.

He said a British government envoy had conveyed to him the decision of his government.

Mr Bilour offered $100,000 bounty for anyone who kills the maker of an anti-Islam film, ‘Innocence of Muslims’.

The railways minister, who visited Britain last year, said he was unmoved by the decision because it would save his dollars.

“I have already spoken my mind to the UK diplomat who delivered a letter to me that I don’t care and anyone daring blasphemy will face the Prophet’s (PBUH) lovers,” he said.

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Pakistan

Ashfaq Yusufzai is a Peshawar-based reporter for Dawn with 20 years of experience covering health-related events in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. His reporting focuses on development in the province’s healthcare sector. He can be found on X at @ashfaqyusufzai_.

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diva

Oct 12, 2012 08:56am

The talibans have given a bad impression about muslims and islam.. This is the reason the west hates the muslims because of the fanatics like the taliban. Trust me not only the west but all other religions are against teh muslims. THey dont think of them as peace makers but only people who can destroy the peace of the earth n humanity. I see only a handful of good muslims.

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ray

Oct 12, 2012 08:53am

Why did mr bilour not put a bounty on the taliban who made an assasination attempt on Malala Yousufzai? he is corrupt to the core he can afford to put millions of dollars of bounty on the taliban's head. but he wont it just goes to show u his priority. He gave his religion more priority than a human being. Does not say much of people who have think kind of thinking. people of his nature n mentality need to be banned from entering any civilized nation. Good job UK. Even God is with malala Yousufzai she got shot in the head and survived shows u that even allah is with her. Talibans need to see this and give up. They are not looking like human beings they are lowering themselves in the eyes of the whole world. this is the bad impression they are giving the west about islam.

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Saqib

Oct 12, 2012 08:52am

Why hasnt the supreme Court taken suo moto notice of this blatant illegal act/offer. Long live our country where people like this gentleman are running around scot free and innocents like Malala get shot at/.

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Zahid Gix

Oct 12, 2012 07:29am

That was such a great publicity stunt conceived and executed by Mr. Bilour. And talibans with their shallow mindedness fell into the booby trap, as expected. What does Mr. Bilour have to say about the corruption that has eaten Pakistan railway right from the bottom? Does Islam end at making bravado statements against blasphemy? Will we even try to understand the true essence of the real message of Islam that talks about morals, ethics, fairplay, justice and equality? Will we ever come out of the delusion that militancy is the only way of bring back the glorious days of Islam? Will we ever be able to lay the foundations of a pragmatic society that believes in ensuring and securing the rights of its people?

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rashid

Oct 12, 2012 07:10am

He should now offer a bounty for capture any remaining fugitives of the Nazi Germany era. He should be able to travel to the UK after that.

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Raza

Oct 12, 2012 06:57am

Good sense of humour

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Khalil

Oct 12, 2012 06:55am

Why he would go to UK, he is already making billions in corruption in Pak Railway...

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amjad

Oct 13, 2012 08:07am

very true. i m muslim myself and lived most of my life in muslim country. i never met these people who are demolishing reputation of islam. look at the history of subcontinent as an example, we all lived peacefully till foreign hands get involved. i dont like media on either side (muslim or western side) who is creating distance between us. we r all human overall. we all should be against evil either muslim or western world

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Sattar

Oct 12, 2012 05:29am

Bilour Sir U R our Hero v r Proud of U love u frm All over the Muslims who r living in ths World

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Oct 12, 2012 04:59am

Lucky them. We're stuck with him.

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My Voice

Oct 12, 2012 09:23am

what help this banning will do?

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My Voice

Oct 12, 2012 09:22am

This what we call...... A nation blinded by media! A nation driven by media, A nation who does not have their own sayings instead which flows by the flow! There were two more girls with her, no one is talking about them!

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Agha

Oct 12, 2012 07:56am

Can we please request your to redirect this bounty to finding Malala's attackers?

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NASAH (USA)

Oct 12, 2012 03:59am

Banning Bilour, great idea! Next the United States.

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Agha Ata (USA)

Oct 12, 2012 12:41pm

No. That is government's job.

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