Ishq-i-Rasool Day: Largely peaceful protests mark the day

Police, protesters clash on Jaranwala Road.

BAHAWALPUR/ GUJRANWALA/ FAISALABAD:

Yaum-i-Ishq-i-Rasool (pbuh) was observed on Friday mostly without violence and laws and order problems.

Major rallies were taken out in Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Multan and Gujranwala. No casualties or serious damage to property was reported.

In Faisalabad, more than a dozen processions were taken out. These were led by representatives of major political and religious parties.

Police were deployed on major roads to deal with the threat of violence, but the overall situation remained under control.

A clash between the police and protesters occurred on Jaranwala Road, after some people vandalised some shops and pelted the police with stones. The situation was, however, brought under control within half-an-hour.

All trading centres and markets, including medical stores, utility stores and restaurants remained closed. Traffic remained suspended on most roads.

The biggest rally was led by local PPP leaders. It marched through various streets of the city and culminated at the Clock Tower Chowk.

PPP Faisalabad President Rana Mushtaq, MNA Tariq Bajwa and former parliamentarians Ismaeel Seela and Badaruddin Chaudhry were prominent among participants.

The Faisalabad chapter of the PML-N took out a rally, led by MNA Haji Akram Ansari and former MNA Mian Abdul Manan. Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) members also protested at the Chiniot Bazaar Centre. JI’s Faisalabad ameer Azeem Randhawa led the rally.

In Gujranwala, the protesters demanded death by hanging for the director and producer of the film. The biggest rally was led by PML-N leader Khwaja Ayub Ilyas. Addressing the rally, he said that the government must deny transit facilities for supplies to the NATO soldiers in Afghanistan. He said anti-Islam elements should not be allowed to live in peace after hurting Muslims’ sentiments.

In Bahawalpur, a complete strike was observed for the second consecutive day to condemn the blasphemous movie, Innocence of Muslims. Members of various religious and political organisations held meetings to mark the day.

Social workers, journalists, students, traders and the eunuch community also participated in the rallies.

In Friday sermons, prayer leaders criticised anti-Islam activities in the West. They also said that Islam did not encourage extremism and urged the people to remain calm.

The protests began in the morning. More people joined them after the Friday prayers. The protesters burnt tyres and chanted slogans against America and Israel and demand stern action against those responsible for the blasphemous film.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2012.