Railway minister says he is ready to be a criminal for instigating people for murder. PHOTO: AFP/ FILE
PESHAWAR / LAHORE: Federal Railway Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour announced that $100,000 will be awarded to the person who kills the maker of the anti-Islam blasphemous film “Innocence of Muslims”.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Bilour said that there was no other way to lodge a protest and instill fear among the blasphemers other than murder of the filmmaker. “I request all the rich people to bring out all their money so that the killer can be loaded with dollars and gold.”
The minister admitted of knowing that he was committing a crime by instigating people for murder, but said that he was ready to be a criminal for this cause. “If there is a case lodged against me in the international court or in this country’s court, I will ask people to hand me over to them… I want to show these countries that we will not tolerate any such things.”
He added that if he is punished, the country should not end ties with the US as this was a matter between him and his prophet.
He also commented on the burning down of a church in Mardan by protesters on the Ishq-e-Rasool Day and expressed grief over the incident. “The minorities over here, the Christians and the Hindus, they are all our brothers. They are also Pakistani.”
Traders’ association Sheikhupura announces Rs5m reward
The Markazi Anjuman Tajran (MAT) Sheikhupura announced a reward of Rs5million for the person who kills the maker of the anti-Islam film, The Express Tribune has learnt.
MAT Sheikhupura President Muhammad Pervez told The Express Tribune that the association has unanimously taken this decision and the announcement is not his individual act.
Pervez said that the members of the association are ready to sacrifice their parents, children and properties for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and will never tolerate the act of the filmmaker of blasphemous movie.
More in Pakistan
Protest aftermath: More than 130 sent to jail
complete bonkers!
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If you want to become Prime Minister it is a good move.
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Christians have movement called What would Jesus do. I think Muslim should start a similar movement What would prophet do if he was alive? how would he react and would he issue a bounty like this?
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He should be charged with the conspiracy to commit and incite murder.
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Joke of the Day. ANP is a secular party.Recommend
First arrange some money for the 20 people who died last day and billions lost as a result of rioting. Arrange some money for your own people and then arrange these bounties. . Also Ghulam Bilour in your Province One Church had been burnt. Give that money to rebuilt that Church as Chrsitians are as much Pakistanis as Muslims or anyone else and they are Indigenous Pakistanis like all others and We should protect the Christians and other minorities at all costs.Recommend
Election stints inf full swing…
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Minister is doing everything to give value to a worthless film.
Can the railways of a country be run by someone so emotional?
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why does true believer need money, allah will reward him with far greater treasures in jannah ;)
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What hogwash?!
Where is the prime minister who wanted ban on hate speeches?!!
I wonder how Pakistan has managed to make itself believe that it is not a terrorist state!!!
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hmmm and what happened to those claims of non-violence when faced with the Taliban? When Taliban destroy mosques and shrines, then isnt that blasphemous? Why is Bilour Sahib more “tolerant” towards that?
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If its the matter between you and your prophet then why dont YOU go and kill the maker of this film???
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I am proud of you Sir.
Till date I have only respected Ayatollah Khomeini more than you, but you have caught up with him today.
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Is his money halal? It railway money.
And is anyone planning to prosecute those who burned a church in Mardan?
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How about donating all that money to Pakistan Railways?
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Lol who will foot the bill?
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‘ ready to be a criminal’, now thats rich……..ask the guy on the road and he’ll tell you that the he is already regarded as one.
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well its just to a stunt. but If USA can put a bounty on muslims like Osama, Zwahiri, Mullah Omar, Hafiz saeed . then why we can’t put a bounty on these terrorists . 1000 dollars bounty reward from me.Recommend
“The minorities over here, the Christians and the Hindus, they are all our brothers”
That’s why people burned a Church in Mardan? make up your mind.
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Ghulam Ahmed Bilour and Governor Khosa are hereby nominated for the Noble Peace Prize.
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Now Sir,
That is difference between Free speech (may be disgusting) and hate speech (inciting violence).
Difference:
Free Speech: “BuddhISM is bogus”
Hate Speech: “Buddhists are kafirs, Kill Dali Lama”
But I suspect you won’t know the difference.
..pRecommend
@Parvez:
You mean his is “rich AND criminal”?
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Go ahead and prove the movie makers point.
Not so innocent muslims now.
When elected officials make mockery of laws then who can blame those rioters
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I think a commentator on one of topics already said that, and if he didn’t I want to make a suggestion. Ripley should bring out a separate edition called “Believe it or not, this happens in Pakistan”.
It is going to be an instant bestseller.
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You have such love for the prophet (pbuh). Kafirs will never understand just like they never understood our prophet (pbuh) and they had to be eliminated quickly. My love for you, your words and your inner strength is only exceeded by your love for our dear prophet (pbuh), sir. Let me also confess sir that my mother tells me that our family has a direct descent from the prophet (pbuh) sir. So, we are fighting for family honor, sir.
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Under what sharia law can u do that? The film maker is a US citizen who doesn’t fall under Pakistani law let alone sharia law, how the heck its permissable to announce bounty on his head and that from ANP minister not some religious party.
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Better try to turn railway into profitable venture.
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Please declare bounty over the head of the people involved in massive corruption in Pakistan Railways
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I wish had same amount and i would have announced on his head for putting the Railways in such shambles.
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Now Federal Railway Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour will ask IMF/WB for an extra loan of US$500,000.00. US$400,00.00 for himself with coming up to this idea and US$100,000.00 for the bounty.
Apart from the invention of a car running on water now another first, locomotives will run on emotions.
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Mr. Billor as usual. Good job Mr. Billor keep up the good work. Shabash. After your accomplishment they might make it illegal to write non-sense against the most beloved person ever in the world.
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This fellow looted the Railways, now offereing a dole. You resign as Minister and go to USA to do that as you have a valid visa, why prompt others.
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learn to respect the holy prophet by following his teachings & stop plundering the pakistan railways which is an ” AMANAT” of the pakistani nation with you.
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PPP coalition zindabad
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This is getting more ludicrous by the day !! Now I am not sure who is the bigger fool – the guy who made this awful film or the guys making such pronouncements. I take it that all these guys have actually seen the film? Personally, I would never see a film like this knowing what it contains.
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Classic — rather than take positive steps to put out the fire a govt minister throws provides it more fuel. You deserve your poor reputation.
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If this is true, the minister won’t be able to travel to US or Europe.
I am sure many of his kids are safely in Europe/USA.
Watch, he will change his statement when he realizes that his USA visa is cancelled.
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Ok, so Pakistan is now on par with Iran (which officially offered a bounty on Salman Rushdie’s head). A very doubtful distinction.
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Oh my God ! I am not a Muslim but will pray to Allah to save Pakistan.
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Why the Government of Pakistan does not register a criminal case against the film makers/actors/ Youtube, bring them to Pakistan through inter-pole, and try them in our courts, just as being done by Americans? At least we should initiate the proceedings.
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@It Is (still) Economy Stupid: *What would prophet do if he was alive? how would he react and would he issue a bounty like this?
Okay. Read about Asma bint Marwana and Kaf bin Ashraf and some others in Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat rasululla, English translation available at Oxford University Press, Lahore
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I had some hope that Pakistan will come out of all the problems presently facing may be over the years but I see the hope receding fast.
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Please spend some of your “honest” money for improving Railways too. Don’t use this emotional issue as a Political Gimmick … it isn’t funny..
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great! let me guess from where the money for bounty will come…RAILWAYS
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This will surely lead to making more movies. It pays.
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Bilour, mostly your money is earned from cinemas and railway corruptions.
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Eh? he has 100k – where did he get that from?
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somebody ask him to give $100,000 to ralway
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The sad fact is that he can say rubbish like this because he knows there will be no accountability at all. No one would dare say in public that he is wrong to do this in case they get a blasphemy case registered against them. Pathetic.
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Wow, let’s prove how peaceful we are.
And by the way, what this minister is doing is incitement.
That’s the problem with his country, mixed up priorities. Shouldn’t this guy be focusing on the railways which are in a shambles.
But wait, now he will become a national role model, let’s just forget about his corruption and incompetence as a minister.Recommend
Cheap publicity, one should ask him who’s money he is promising to dole out, it is always the poor tax payers who are paying through their noses. I have known the Bilours since 1960 and he should tell us what have they( family) done for the common good of Peshawar or KP people except fleecing them whenever they got a chance to do so. WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU PEOPLE, WHY CAN’T YOU FOLLOW THE TEACHINGS OF PROPHET MOHAMMAD (pbuh), during his life time there were people who persecuted him but he always forgave them for their ignorance and tresspassing. I am a Muslim and my religion is the most beautiful religion and what we are doing is dragging it into the mud. This convicted criminal has made this film to bate us and we fall for it by killing and destroying our country and Pakistan’s enemies are laughing . Mr. Bilour should be checked out by some psychiatrist because he is unstable and look what has he done to the Pakistan Railways.
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Is he doing it to protect his cinemas?
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Punjab governor compares a movie with holocaust , a federal minister issues a bounty on maker of a movie , and opposition leaders had called for “peaceful” protests just a day earlier , what am I supposed to think that Pakistan is not Iran ? I thought Pakistan had moved into 21st century civilization , but I have been proven wrong ! Either pakistani media politicians ulema intellectuals and protesters are extremely ignorant or ignorant and retarded!
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i announce a bounty for the mullahs and this federal minister………….
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Why are people making such a fuss over it? If you can’t take the heat get out of the kitchen. A lover of the Prophet does not count the cost of loving.
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Now, I do not see any difference between Taliban and ANP leaders any more. This insane man is playing with fire and does not have a slightest idea about the short term and long term consequences of promoting such trends in a country which is fast becoming intolerant, violent, and radical. ANP, which was once a secular party, is now trying to compete with right wing religious corrupt leadership in promoting hatred and religious extremism. I am amazed he is still holding the office and party leadership. By now, he should have been fired from both positions immediately by government and ANP top brass. Alas, what a moral crisis Pakistan is suffering from? Recommend
Vienna,September 22,2012
This is indeed great beginning. Since there would so many rich
Muslims the bounty on head go beyond several billions of dollars.
For example MAT Sheikhpura has already volunteered Rs. five
million! I am Muslims world wide with sole relationship between
themselves as individuals and the faith in God would worth several
trillions of dollars. Security firms protecting a Christian American
of Egyptian origin,who made a bad job of the film will earn a lot if
only they go unfaithful to their salt.
Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India
–Kulamarva Balakrishna
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Wow cant we find a muslim who will do without the money. Doed he love money more than prophet?
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It is incredible that a government minister should incite murder and violence. He should be fired immediately from the Cabinet and from the ANP.. Bilour is recklessly putting fuel on the fire. Recommend
It is offense under US laws to place a bounty on US citizen to commit a criminal act. I suppose that US will place a lifelong US visa ban on this minister and progeny. US needs to make a background check to see if he and his family members have dual citizenship or have been applicants for green card in US .
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Why cant this minister who loves prophet so much himself eliminate the film maker. He is in a much better position like US Visa, money to stay there and also to buy weapons to kill him. I think we pakistanis will take care of his family back home. All the best minister.
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what a silly statement by our Fed Minister,
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Minister Bilour should first resign from his ministerial position before embarking on his criminal career, instigating murder. Otherwise there is every possibility he may make good his offer with Pakistan Railway money. We can’t afford to finance his criminal actions.Recommend
That tells you
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Now that IS inciting violence , but I’m sure that is allowed in Pakistan !
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I know there are lots of fanatics in the country but now I know why militancy can never be eliminated from it. Recommend
remind me guys isnt it the same railways minister bilour whose earlier pearl of wisdom was “” we should shut the railways like afghanistan and saudis who do not have rail service and the countries are stil running .
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nobody should listen to this fellow,like all other Pakistani politicians he believes in lip service and unlikely to honour his promise.any Pakistani who embarks upon the journey to kill the blasphemer will not even get his travel allowances.
PS:the movie is an attack on sanity,producer ,along with cast and crew should be punished,and what would be a better punishment than to make them watch their own movie for zillion time.
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Where did he get the $100,000? I wonder if he declared it for tax purposes.
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I think we have to offer a $1000,000 bounty on the railway minister and see how he deals with being accused of contracting for a murder. Or we need to indict him for this clear offense.
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Bilour Sahab: Kindly use that money for the betterment of your own department.Recommend
He certainly is an unpopular person! I wonder who advised him to make such an statement. Will he not be declared as persona non grata by the West?
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Offering to pay someone to commit a crime is against the law in most countries and in Pakistan…he has admitted his guilt in the newspaper…he should be arrested immediately unless the justice system doesn’t work in Pakistan either…
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Bilour Jee you can punish them by giving a train ride from Peshawar to Karachi – why offer public money?
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Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif, Zardari, and even Altaf Hussain are failing big time. These are the persons who should provide leadership and guidance. They should not bring out their party members on the street. My biggest disappointment here has been the Oxford educated Imran Khan. The CJ’s own lawyers are part of this mob and CJ is visibly silent. TV channels and leaders of religious parties endlessly discuss on holocaust and are intentionally misguiding the public by their flawed discussions. Although I started disliking Aamir Liaquat Hussain after his leaked video, I have now started to develop some respect for him. He and Hasan Nissar are the only persons I have heard condemning such protests unconditionally. All others appear to condemn but simultaneously provide a justification for such activities.
There are more Pakistani Muslims than Arabs in any of the Gulf Kingdoms. They probably outnumber the Arabs there by a 2:1 or even 3:1 ratio. Yet, can any Pakistani muslim come out on the streets there even on a peaceful protest, or even talk about with their friends. They cannot talk about it even within their homes.
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Does this man have a BA degree? Recommend
such a dark day for the country. Even the minister is inciting murder.
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He should offer 50% advance payment if he is serious
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Cheap stunt and a method of point scoring by the minister. shame!
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And this guy is a lawmaker? Lolz. What a joke! We need to exercise our right and vote these kind of people out of the office.Recommend
The Leaders of Pakistan have no moral courage, to condemn these preposterous acts of savagery and Jahalia, they lack the foresight and are digging a hole for everyone by not challenging the mullah who is completely devoid of reason & logic. These include all of them including our military and all political parties.
Some one tell me why there were no protests in the Saudi and many other Muslim countries. Love for the Prophet (PBUH) is not shown by committing acts of violence, or fulfilling the movies purpose (which has been mainly to incite our lunatics). I am sad to say that if such insanity continues we would soon lose Pakistan again as we did in 71. Recommend
Consider this US$100,000.00 gone from the coffers of the Railways in his pocket. Superb move.
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A disguting Joke………Recommend
This country of ours is never boring. Everyday there is a new surprise from some Joker.
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@It Is (still) Economy Stupid:
I agree with you. He must resign from his post also.
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@Bill Maher (LAX):
FREE SPEECH: Holocaust is bogus
HATE SPEECH: Kill Jews
Bill – Would you mind explaining the difference
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PAK leadership at its best………… now does anyone have a question about why the rail system does not work?
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I am sure his children or close kins are living or studying in the US and the West. Is he going to ask them to return from the kafir countries?
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@zeeshan sheikh:
“well its just to a stunt. but If USA can put a bounty on muslims like Osama, Zwahiri, Mullah Omar, Hafiz saeed . then why we can’t put a bounty on these terrorists . 1000 dollars bounty reward from me.”
Why not? It is because the terrorists you mention have been directly responsible for global acts of terrorism resulting in the death of tens of thousands of people while the movie maker just made a movie. If you can’t see the difference, then you should get a ticket on a time machine and go back to the 7th century.
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@crescendo: Yes there ae NO holocaust denial laws in US where this movie was made and uploaded i.e. US. In other words holocaust denial mong other things is considered protected speech in US
What’s your point?
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How about a bounty for the murderers that behead our soldiers and intimidate our citizens in the name of the Prophet (PBUH)
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All the major muslim countries just ignored it,some had few protest (mainly non violent ).Libya, it is still not clear if the attack on american embassy was planned before.On the whole protesters were calm and their protest peaceful.Only exception was pakistan,even in pakistan it took few days for mullahs and Tv anchors to instigate the people.Is pakistan a WANNA-BE muslim country.What is the problem????????
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I am going for the $10m on the head of Hafiz Saeed. At least the Americans will pay me and look after me. This $100,000 is nothing and unlikely to happen.
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@Arif Bilgaumi: Very well said!
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Its curious but the Right Hon’ble Minister did not announce any funds for the flood hit Pkaistanis.
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In his mind helping the flood victims is US responsibility.
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Its the courage of bilour sahib and his love with the prophet (pbuh). we should appreciat them.
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He might as well have spat on Bacha khan’s grave who stood for non-violence his whole life.
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@Irshad Khan:
“bring them to Pakistan through inter-pole”
Inter-pole like between two poles?
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I believe that ET has omitted significant part of minister’s statement . New York Times in its article today titled ” Pakistani Minister Offers Bounty Over Anti-Islam Film ” also states that “And he invited the Taliban and Al Qaeda to be “partners in this noble deed,” according to news reports.”
Does it mean that there are Taliban supporters and sympathizers in Pakistani Federal Cabinet itself ?
It is very difficult for the world to interpret these statements emanating from the center of power.
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@crescendo:
Pretty self explanatory. One expresses an opinioin the other incites violence directly. Also note that holocaust denial is not illegal in the US.
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you get the ministers you deserve.
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It’s a shame that such a hateful person as Bilour is a Federal Minister. In the time of chaos, is this what we expect from a person having a position of responsibility? He even invited heinous groups Taliban and Al-Queda to join his fight. No wonder why we are derided as the harbingers of terrorism. Reuters reports that attendees at the press conference, where he offered the bounty, clapped and cheered at his remarks. The country is not just financially bankrupt, it’s morally bankrupt as well.
Ask yourselves some simple questions. Is this the civilized way to respond to a disgusting film by a bigot? Would killing fellow Muslims teach the filmmakers a lesson? Would Prophet approve this irrationality?
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Mr. Ghulam Ahmed Bilour please give this corruption money to the Pakistan Railway for its rehabilitation and betterment instead of killing the culprits of this movie because you this wish can never be fulfilled because they are under US’ police’s security umbrella and have been shifted on the unknown place in USA……Recommend
The Muslim Ummah is slowly but surely progressing (or is it regressing) towards early seventh century AD. Congratulations.
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There won’t be a severe verdict for his crime of instigating to kill. Can he dare announce even $10000 as bounty on the heads of those extremists and their organizational heads in Pakistan, who blatantly instigate killings of other muslims and minorities?
He knows well that he won’t even get a trial for doing the latter.
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Ghulam Ahmad Blour is promoting terrorism. ANP is the only secular political party…for the party sake he should be kicked of the party. I personally think he’s incompetent anyways. Is he not the same “Railway Minister” who suggested that Pakistan should get rid of Railways? What would he do without the railway ministry?
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All around the world Bilour;s speech is being broadcast in which he appeals to the taliban & AQ to go & kill the film makers. As Bilour is a federal minister effectively he is speaking for the govt of Pakistan too. How embaressing!!
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If we look at their tax returns, most of these guys don’t even own a bicycle then how on earth is this bloke gonna pay $100,000 ? My tax money ?
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Election gimmick.Recommend
Prophet Mohammed – Peace be upon Him !!
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… and how, may we ask, Mr. Bilour has got himself the ki.d of money that a small portion of whi,h he is able to waste?
… serving Islam … with ill gotten gains … !!Recommend
The Supreme Court should summon this fellow to deposit that 100000 dollars and order incometax investigation as to how much he looted from the railways. Recommend
Conscientious leader!!! After serving as head of railways for over four years spoke of closing it down but refused to step down as minister. Today could not stop himself under the pressure of lofty principles. By the way, who might be able to get free passage into Land of Dreams & Opportunities than minister himself for the heroic deed, so is it another self pat on the back for work well-done or perhaps the enticement is for others; who cares as long as the combination of rhetoric and popular sentiments (sadly, not against the economic and administrative mismanagement and social decadence) keeps the flame of politics alive and burning.
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Don’t worry Folks, he’s not speaking his heart. He has always spoken against Muslim laws and is truly secular minded.
He’s not even a practicing Muslim, he gave this statement just to get his vote-bank upgraded for the forthcoming elections.
Anyways, everybody including him knows that the killer could not claim the money, as he will be apprehended immediately.Recommend
Well they burned down one of his cinemas, he does not want the same fate befall the others
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“Brave comments from a brave man”. No politician in entire Muslim world dare to threaten an American as he did coz the we are beggers.
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Bilour has destroyed railways and now he has find a new way to earn him some popular support. Recommend
The man must have made millions as a railway minister since railways is suffering a loss of Rs one crore per month which is an unbelievable figure and most of it must be pocketed by him. Even though Rs 10 crore bounty is peanuts for him but I am sure that if somebody does this job he will back out from his promise.
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@Enlightened:
You mentioned $100000. This will be equal to one croro rupees and not 10 crore. Just acounting correction.I think one crore is peanut for him
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@It Is (still) Economy Stupid:
…no doubt, he would!
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Double Standards of Americans and Europeans. To European & American Parliamentarian, you believe and talk about freedom of expression and speech so why are you protesting against the statement of Ghulam Ahmad Blour?
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@Acorn Guts:
Double Standards of Americans and Europeans Parliamentarian and so called your well civilized rulers and peoples, you believe and talk about freedom of expression and speech so why are you protesting against the statement of Ghulam Ahmad Blour?
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The US,maintain a official FBI website for this purpose.I guess the shoe pinches when it is on their own foot.I feel he was very much entitled to have to have made this announcement.
Recently,the US had officially announced head money for Hafiz Saeed a Pakistani,religious and social activist and that to on behalf of a third country,India…Preposterous ,isn’t it…The maker of the film aptly by all accounts fits the description of an Extremist/radical Terrorist!
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@Sethi: “Recently,the US had officially announced head money for Hafiz Saeed a Pakistani,religious and social activist and that to on behalf of a third country,India…Preposterous ,isn’t it…The maker of the film aptly by all accounts fits the description of an Extremist/radical Terrorist!”
I believe the so-called bounty was not for the head of Hafiz Saeed, but to information leading to his arrest.
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WOW!!! I live in the U.S. and after looking at all these comments I have a better perspective of your country. Thank you citizens of Pakistan.
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