PESHAWAR:
Decrying US President Barack Obama’s refusal to ban an anti-Islam film despite widespread protests, the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) has announced a long march through Peshawar on October 1 to honour Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Addressing a press conference, DPC media coordinator Advocate Israrullah said that so far DPC’s component parties were protesting individually. On October 1, all parties on the council will collectively observe a day to honour the Prophet (PBUH).
“About 100,000 people will take part in a march from Chamkani to Karkhano in Peshawar,” said Israrullah. All arrangements have been finalised to ensure that this march is peaceful, he added.
DPC demands an apology from the US President, a policy that outlaws blasphemy internationally, and punishment for those who sponsored the sacrilegious film, said Israrullah. He added that the US ambassador should be expelled from Pakistan till DPC’s demands were met.
“President Obama refused to ban the sacrilegious movie, while Muslims are being asked to not hold protests demonstrations. What kind of freedom of speech is this?” he questioned.
Discounting the political parties’ involvement in Ishq-e-Rasool Day riots, Israrullah said that incidents of arson, looting and killings on September 21 were engineered to reduce the effectiveness of such rallies. He also said that the day was marked by violence owing to laxity on the government’s part, and that the media only highlighted the riots without giving due coverage to protest rallies.
DPC’s rally will be lead by its central leadership including Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Syed Munawar Hassan, DPC Chairman and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-S) chief Maulana Samiullah Haq, Jamaatud Dawa chief Professor Hafiz Saeed and Ahl-e-Sunnah wal Jamaat chief Mohammad Ahmed Ludhianvi.
The protesters will embark on their march from Jamaat-e-Islami’s provincial headquarters near Ring Road Chowk, and will conclude at the Karakhano market near the boundary of Jamrud tehsil in Khyber Agency.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2012.
COMMENTS (32)
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Does DPC have any idea about how crazy they sound?
I dare ji to hold rally in karachi. It will never be successful as shias will not support their extremist agenda.
Is DPC willing to apologize for its role in the death of six americans in Mumbai or 160 Indians and other nationality? Whom I kidding? Sorry I forgot about the entitlement of DPC.
I will once again point out to the readers that the United States had nothing to with the offensive video. In his speech Tuesday to the UN, President Obama described the offensive video as "crude and disgusting" and an insult "not only to Muslims, but to America as well." There is no doubt that many Americans feel this way. He also pointed out that “‘freedom of speech’ is enshrined in our laws: Our Constitution protects the right to free speech. Here in the United States, countless publications provoke offense. Like me, the majority of Americans are Christian, and yet we do not ban blasphemy against our most sacred beliefs. As president of our country, and commander-in-chief of our military, I accept that people are going to call me awful things every day, and I will always defend their right to do so.”
We understand that there are different views around the world about the outer limits of free speech. This is well and good – in fact, it is largely because there is value in differing opinions that we have laws protecting free speech. But surely we can agree that holding the United States responsible for the act of an individual with no connection to the U.S government makes no sense at all.
Capt. Joseph Kreidel DET-United States Central Command www.centcom.mil/ur
@Tony Singh couldn't agree more....is high time these mullahs realized that they are the ones actual committing blasphemy...please don't make Islam so small that its grace and glory can be brought down by one person!
DPC just for your information , even a spineless Obama may not apologize to you. The foreign govts. are unlikely to be influenced by mobs like you, only your spineless and brainless govt. does that!
We demand written apology in khaleesh Urdu signed by Prez Obama and delivered in person by him to DPC daftar in Lahore! Anything less than that will not be acceptable to pious us!!
You ever get tired of the chest thumping emotional outburst so popular in Pakistan - can anyone remember when all that bravado resulted in the USA, India or anyone other than your own govt throwing in the towel?
I used to be big supporter of DPC but lost all respect after they couldnt block nato supplies. Looks like they are only after publicity. if they want my respect then they should keep protesting till pakistan expells the ambassador.
Excellent step by DPC. INSHALLAH it will be a success
First the facts: 1. Obama has nothing to do with the clip, neither does the govt. of US. 2. Mr. HafeezS feelings have been hurt by the clip. 3. He wants an apology from Obama.
What happened today, Facts: 1. A stray dog bit me today, causing real hurt and harm to me. 2. Mr. HafeezS does not know the dog and has not endorsed dog's actions (yet :-) 3. I want an apology from Mr. HafeezS.
Question: When can I expect that? ..pc
@Pir Bulleh Shah: "Has the ambassador submitted an official letter of apology yet? If not, then he must be kicked out."
Your memory is not very sharp is it? You did not get an apology - only an expression of regret after closing the supply line for7 months. Your leaders - both civilian and military know that such displays of ghairat are not economically affordable to Pakistan.
In this case anyway, Obama and Hillary have criticized the video per se. Anything more than that is not going to happen - however many 'Days' you choose to have.
I thought sincerely about criticizing DPC, then it occurred to me, who is the fool? Me!
It will be akin to banging my head with a turd.
Go DPC.... Hurray! ..pc
Arrest all of them and send to Kala Paani .
@Pir Bulleh Shah: "Has the ambassador submitted an official letter of apology yet? If not, then he must be kicked out." Why don't you do the honours?
Another friday of mayhem and destruction. Will these thickies ever learn?
These people are hopelessly out of touch with reality. If they sincerely believe that even a single demand from their incredible list will be met, they are living in cloud-cuckoo-land.
About 100,000 people will take part in a march from Chamkani to Karkhano in Peshawar
A lot of people with no jobs. As they say an empty mind is the devils workshop
Another Friday, another day of destruction and drama instead of making it a day of God and religion!
IF DPC wanst Obama to apologise for that Video just because it was created in America, I would like to know what they think President Zardari should do for those 10 Mumbai attackers who killed 166 people including Muslims? Any wonder why the World thinks of DPC leadership as a bunch of hypocrates?
Its not like these people or their supporters have Jobs to go to.... they live on charity and act with such arrogance... What do they stand for except ignorance, bigotry, intolerance, misogyny and over all bad ideas?? The US should bomb they back into the stone age.. which for them would be an upgrade of at least a million years worth of intellectual development....
So their lust has not quenched with the blood of 30+ innocent lives from last Friday.
Enough already......do these mullahs not realize the US has different laws and freedom of speech irrespective of the content is enshrined in their constitution and holding such protest while commendable isnt going to make the US change its laws. If they have a problem make a counter movie or better yet take the film maker to court for hate speech.........by destroying your own country and paralyzing its economy is stupid at best!!
Horrible!! I cant even think of living in a country with such a chaotic situation.I admire people of pakistan.
There we go again..
Now DPC's turn to celebrate "Expel US ambassador" day and going by the "love of Prophet Day", once could only assume the mayhem coming our way..
Lock them all in..
"DPC’s rally will be lead by its central leadership including Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Syed Munawar Hassan, DPC Chairman and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-S) chief Maulana Samiullah Haq, Jamaatud Dawa chief Professor Hafiz Saeed and Ahl-e-Sunnah wal Jamaat chief Mohammad Ahmed Ludhianvi." League of ....... men Certainly not extraordinary and definitely not gentle!
Can DPC also demand banning of hate speaches in Pakistan, equal rights for minorities in Pakistan?
Beware my fellow Pakistanis... Apology will not come.. but destruction might. Try to safeguard yourselves.
let us hope that the rally remains peaceful as claimed by the organizers but it will be night mare for the administration Right wing do not want to miss this opportunity to gain mileage political and social...
There is a much agreed upon, phrase: Guns don't kill people, people kill people. Corollary: The movie did not kill anyone, people killed people.
Someone left a gun loaded with hate bullets on the road, we came along and shot ourselves in the head by pulling the trigger.
The movie did not offend the Prophet(pbuh). The protesters who killed and looted did that.
Will it be reasonable to ask DPC to apologize to the WHOLE WORLD for the killing of the US ambassador Chris Stevens; three diplomats and 20+ deaths in Pakistan due to violent protests, including that of policemen?
DPC was involved in the violent protests and pls don't give me the excuse that policemen provoked you. ..pc
There will be more Fridays when Pakistanis need not turn up for work.