Carrying out acts of violence, arson and killings is not what the the Holy Prophet (pbuh) has taught us.
NATHIAGALI: September 21 was Ishq-e-Rasool day; a day to express our deep love for the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The PPP declared it a public holiday to allow the Pakistani nation to express anger and revulsion at the blasphemous film Innocence of Muslims.
After addressing the meeting of the cabinet, the prime minister addressed in Urdu and English, a huge gathering of diplomats, representatives of the Christian, Hindu, Sikh and Parsi communities and ulema, urging calm and civil behaviour while protesting. He asked for unity and order while condemning the blasphemous film. He rightly urged Pakistanis to show respect for all religions and protect churches, temples and other places of worship.
The mobs were led by rowdy youngsters and loafers, who set fire to cinema houses, toll plazas, police vehicles, police posts, shops, petrol pumps and private property. Pakistani Christians were in the forefront of the minority communities who had fully supported the public protests. Yet, a church in Mardan was set on fire by protesters. Appeals by officials, and religious scholars and the police for restraint were disregarded by the hooligans. Despite provocation and stones being thrown at them, the police exercised immense restraint. It was most disgusting to see criminals and scoundrels stoning cars, burning tyres and plundering private property. They did this on a day when they should have shown respect for the Holy Prophet (pbuh). The best way to show respect to the Holy Prophet (pbuh) is to pray in silence for peace and interfaith harmony. Shouting abuse, carrying out acts of violence, arson and killings is not what the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet (pbuh) have taught Muslims.
The torching of the church in Mardan and criminal behaviour and actions, especially threats to the West by fanatic clerics and mobs, will weaken support for President Asif Ali Zardari‘s effort, to impress on the world community, in his address to the UN General Assembly on September 25, to pass a resolution condemning the making of the blasphemous video.
The people of Pakistan need to control their passion and anger to convince the rest of the world that we are grieved and that our grief must be redressed.
Ayaz Ahmed Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2012.
