LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has announced a rally for Friday (today) against the sacrilegious movie.
At a high-level party meeting on Thursday, PML-N president Nawaz Sharif directed all party leaders, lawmakers, office-bearers and workers to take part in a peaceful protest after Juma prayers on Youm-e-Ishq-e-Rasool to express their devotion for the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Vigorously condemning the sacrilegious film, Nawaz said it was “every Muslim’s duty to condemn the film and participate in the peaceful protest against it.”
“The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was the torch-bearer of peace. Therefore, we should keep our protest peaceful, in light of Islamic teachings, and desist from extremism and vandalism,” he added.
Nawaz also postponed his visit to flood-stricken areas in Sindh scheduled for Friday as a mark of respect for Youm-e-Ishq-e-Rasool. The new date for the visit will be announced soon.
At the meeting, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced a public holiday in the province on Youm-e-Ishq-e-Rasool, reiterating Nawaz’s call for participation in the scheduled protest.
PML-N Senator Pervez Rashid, meanwhile, appealed the ‘Ashiqan-e-Rasool’ (devotees of the Holy Prophet) to remain peaceful during Friday’s protest as well. Asking people to avoid violence and hooliganism, he said, “Expressing anguish over this sensitive religious issue is the right of every Muslim but it is everyone’s responsibility to avoid damaging public and private property.”
PML-Q’s Riaz Pirzada calls on Nawaz
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) MNA Riaz Hussain Pirzada joined the PML-N on Thursday. Meeting Nawaz Sharif at Raiwind, Pirzada also urged all other Muslim Leagues to unite under Nawaz’s leadership.
Talking at the occasion, Nawaz said PML-N would welcome all Muslim Leaguers who agreed with the party’s agenda and programme.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2012.
COMMENTS (10)
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Any damage caused must be paid for by the organisers
Bangladesh took a correct step to separate religion from politics. The majority of people in Pakistan are uneducated ( 80 % of them ). They are easily manipulated by the mullahs and if we try to explain them then we are called blasphemers. People think by burning cinemas, kfc and other restaurants they are directly hurting America but those fools don't know by taking such steps investors would run away which would result in more unemployment in Pakistan. In Morocco Friday prayers were offered in front of the US embassy to record their protests.It is difficult to explain this to the people as our government never took vital steps to improve the education system in Pakistan so the masses could gain some common sense.
@Shahid Butt: You fail to realize thaf things would have also been out of control in Punjab ( like other provinces ) had Naeaz Sharif not coordinated the rallies .
@Haris Chaudhry: I agree 100% with you. Would any body out of political/religious leadership step forward and accept the responsibility of making mistake?By burning public property and killing our own people ( 15 so far per news ) we are helping whom?
@Salman: Which factories???? Can you please be more specific??
@Blithe:
yeah 2 factories were burnt in Lahore ...how peaceful
@Salman: Last I checked , the most peaceful protests were in Punjab.
What the above comments have missed is that NS decided to cancel his trip to the flood affected areas of Sindh to gain cheap popularity and be part of the Mullah bandwagon.
These buffoons let the savages burnt properties all across Punjab so much for their ish-e-rasool