KARACHI: Three religious parties — the Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamaatud Dawa and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan — organised separate rallies in the city on Sunday in protest over the publication of controversial cartoons and demanded a international law to prohibit blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The JI organised a Shan-i-Mustafa (SAW) ‘million march’ on University Road from Hassan Square to Nipa; the JuD held a Hurmat-i-Rasool march that originated from Safari Park in Gulshan-i-Iqbal to Shahrah-i-Quaideen and the JUP staged a Tahaffuz-i-Namoos-i-Mustafa rally from Jama Cloth Market to Karachi Press Club.

Waving party flags and carrying posters and banners condemning the publication of controversial caricatures, a large number of people, including women and children, reached the venue to participate in the JI rally. The event was also attended by representatives of several political and religious parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party, PML-Nawaz, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, etc.

Speaking on the occasion, JI chief Siraj-ul-Haq demanded Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to immediately convene meetings of the Organisation of Islamic Conference and all parties in the country to send a clear message to the Western world that the entire ummah was united to protect the sanctity of the Prophet (pbuh).

Declaring that “blasphemy is terrorism not freedom”, the JI chief announced that his party would fight with the Western for “fanning hatred against Muslims through their nefarious designs”.

“I have contacted leaders of the Islamic movements across the world in Malaysia, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Egypt and called for organising protest demonstrations against this heinous act of the Western world”, he added.

He appealed to the people of Karachi to stand and continue their protest against the Western world until the apology from France and other European countries over the publication of the “blasphemous sketches”.

He warned the Western world to either refrain itself from such heinous acts or get ready to face dire consequences, as every Muslim would become Salahuddin Ayubi and Mehmood Ghaznavi.

He demanded imposition of “Nizam-i-Mustafa” (SAW) in the country for its better future.

He also criticised the attitude of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement MQM, saying: “Whenever we protest against the publication of sacrilegious caricatures, why the MQM stand in favour of the Western world and demand imposition of a ban on Jamaat-i-Islami.”

JI deputy chief Asadullah Bhutto demanded that Pakistan sever ties with France and the United States and expel their diplomats from the country.

JuD rally

The JuD rally was also attended by a large number of people who were protesting against the publication of the controversial cartoons.

Addressing the protesters, JuD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed urged the Mulsim rulers to unite on the issue of Namoos-i-Risalat to represent the true sentiments of the Muslim world.

He said that the world peace depended on an international law for the protection of sanctity and honour of the Prophet (pbuh).

He said that the government should take practical steps to ensure Tahaffuz-i-Namoos-i-Risalat as mere condemnation was not enough.

He urged Pakistani businessmen to completely boycott French products to prove their love for the Prophet (pbuh).

The JuD chief asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sahrif to take immediate measures for Hurmat-i-Rasool (SAW) like he took several measures against terrorism following the Peshawar school tragedy.

JUP march

The Tahaffuz-i-Namoos-i-Mustafa rally was led by Ovais Noorani.

Speaking on the occasion, he suggested the Muslim rulers to immediately converge at Medina Munawwara to formulate an effective strategy to compel the world to make legislation to check blasphemy.

He said that the publication of “blasphemous cartoons” amount to sabotage the world peace and those involved were terrorists and deserved to be taken to task.

Expressing their sorrow and anger over publications of the controversial caricatures, the participants of the rally torched the flag of France and effigies of the rulers supporting the act of blasphemy in the name of freedom of expression.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2015

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