Government disassociates self from bounty on anti-Islam filmmaker
Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour invited members of the Taliban and al Qaeda to take part in the "noble deed", and said given the chance he would kill the film-maker with his own hands.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf rejected Bilour's comments, made on Saturday, a day after angry protests across Pakistan against the Innocence of Muslims left 21 people dead and more than 200 injured.
"This is not government policy. We completely dissociate (ourselves) from this," Shafqat Jalil told AFP.
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@Rex Minor: Dear Rex, We are not really sure who made the film, but if Coptic's were involved they were probably paid, junior servants. I will give you one guess as to who the main antagonists were, or on reflection should we say protagonists.
Wel said, Mr. Pardeep@Pradeep:
Pakistan Govt could issue a warrant of arrest against the coptic criminal and ask the USA Govt for his extridition. If Morsi the Egyptian Prsident can take such an acton, why can't Pakistan Govt. Those who are sugesting action aainst the Railway mnister are simply asking for Prim Minister disgrace and dismissal?
Rex Minor
He should be fired....The bounty money should be taken from him and given to Railway improvement.
@Pradeep:
"Mr Shah… If Muslims are willing to learn science from Non-Muslims, why not learn non-violent philosophy towards resistance as well?"
You better teach this non-violent philosophy to your own countrymen first. Recall anti-Muslim and anti-Sikh riots. How many thousands were massacred in those riots. Remember those 90,000+ Kashmiris your brave soldiers killed to keep them in bondage.
The PPP can no longer claim to be a secular party.
Pir Bulle Shah,
Where in Islam does it say to destroy your neighborhood if the actions of individuals in other countries causes you personal offense? Which way of islam have these poor people who have rioted followed exactly? If the wealthy of Pakistan aren't careful this storm of rage fueled by poverty and stoked by those who use religion to obtain wealth and power will overcome their more and more isolated wealthy enclaves. That man you pay 1000 rupees a week to stand at your gate with a gun has much more less in common with you than the hordes of the poor and brainwashed who may soon be outside the gates of your mansion in Defense or Clifton.
Ashamed Pakistani
The minister who destroyed Pakistan Railways with his corruption has made this insane announcement, unbecoming of a responsible elected public office holder. He should be sacked by A to Z, but will he do it? I doubt he will, because we have seen him accomodating those responsible for acts of terrorism like the target killings in Karachi.
I personally do not approve of the bounty offered by Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, but then again, America also has a bad habit of offering rewards or bounties in order to capture people, dead or alive. Muslims are quite rightly upset about a film insulting the Prophet. I agree but personally believe in free speech. It has been mentioned quite often that a certain religion does appear to get favored treatment in America and particularly in Europe. In America, free speech does appear to exist, but it is all smoke and mirrors, and people, particularly politicians have to look out if they cross the line. There is a lot of talk about free speech and due process in the 1st Amendment, but there is a collective method of avoiding the truth when needed. The American and Western media seem to collude, and produce total silence when they have things they do not wish the public to know about. Further, Government silence seems to be order of the day when a security blanket is placed over selected items without proof and veracity of their assertions when it suits. Also, in America there are many ways of getting around free speech. The government, and big business media, collude to be scornful and use terms such as "conspiracy theory", but they themselves do not produce a credible alternative or investigation. If Ghulam Ahmed Bilour had not offered a bounty I would be in full agreement with him.
@Pir Bulle Shah: Mr Shah... If Muslims are willing to learn science from Non-Muslims, why not learn non-violent philosophy towards resistance as well? Naming yourself Bulle Shah and not imbibing good concepts from any sources (be it Muslim or otherwise) is indeed a paradox.
@Pir Bulle Shah: I did not get your point . Are you saying that we believe in destroying first to the accused and if not possible then to ourselves.
What a nura kushti...people are not so stupid dear Prime minister...we know what you and your government is doing...
Just goes to prove that the Pakistan government knew about Osama, as this man now calls on his brothers in Al Qaeda
@Pir Bulle Shah: since you had to bring the issue of gandhiji's religion, for argument's sake let us say that we ignore him. But you have something similar from the founder of Islam viz the Prophet who said that killing one person is like killing humanity. So what do you say about that? Isnt this considered blasphemy now? So should the Taliban and other crazies put a bounty on the minister's head?
@Pradeep: You make sense to me. I am a sunny Muslim from Mardan Pakistan and love my religion Islam but if one follow the teachings of Islamic religion, there is no room for taking revenge from any one even a convicted criminal living in California. There were people who persecuted the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) during his life time and he forgave them for their trespassing and ignorance, why can we Muslims follow his teachings and be peaceful toward the humanity. This is just mind boggling what is going on in Pakistan, they are dragging this beautiful religion in the mud. May God forgive them for their ignorance.
This is not enough, fire him from this job, he has shown his incompetence for the last 4years running the Pakistan Railways in the ground. But you people don't want to give up these cushy jobs and perks for life. Hopefully you will find out in the next election how much contempt the people of Pakistan has for your guys. Keep it up and you will find yourself in jail for corruption and mismanagement.
Mr Pradeep
We need not remind you that Gandhi was no Muslim. He had his way, Muslims follow Islam alone.
I am surprised at the various arguments put forth by Muslims (especially Pakistanis) when they say "Freedom of speech is a great idea but it must be exercised with caution as to not hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims". These are the same Pakistanis who as a matter of state policy have Pakistan studies in their curriculum where they stereotype and vilify non-Muslims. I mean... every Pakistan child is made to study these stereotypes. The "Innocence of Muslims" is similar to stereotyping in Pakistan studies except that it is on youtube.
However, two wrongs do not make a right. I condemn the video because its intent was pure maliciousness as opposed to art or academia.
That said, I would like to quote Gandhiji from whom Muslims may learn something. "This is a cause I am willing to die for. But there is no cause that I am willing to kill for"
That's it, just turn away, shrug your shoulders and do nothing about where this nation is heading. Stay classy PPP, stay classy.
How can you disassociate yourselves from the action of a cabinet Minister without removing him from office?
Pakistan never stops surprises me. Here is a minister broke the law by trying to instigate murder with the help of criminals like taliban and aq. The PM of this godforsaken country just disassociates himself from this clown. No wonder even Kuwaitis refusing visa for Pakistanis.(Dawn-letter to Editor)
Mr. Prime Minister, it is not sufficient to make a statment where you disassociate yourself from a member of your cabinet. He is a minister in one of the largest states in the world. As a responsible member of the World community Pakistan can not afford to have a minster who asks for an extra judicial killing. It is a matter of principle. If you do not remove him from your cabinet, you will lose your stans on extra judicial killings by American drones in your country.
Pakistan is fighting a battle for its future. This future must lie on principles. No matter how much one is hurt, or believe that there are terrorists in Northeren Pakistan, one cannot go for extra judicial killings. We who have supported Pakistans point of view on extra judicial killings by USA drones, need you take a principle stans now.
ANP is a secular party and leadership is in close conntact with USA. So this is an individual step so that when corruption cases emerge from railway, bilour can belame is as a punishment for this act. You can fool Wali khan but not every Pakistani
Nonsense. As long as he's still a minister he's part of the government. There has been no "disassociation" in fact, only in words.
What does the whole world think of Pakistan ? Go on the internet and read all the world's news headlines.
Was the minister dismissed ? No. Was a case registered against the minister ? No. Is this minister considered to be efficient and honest in Pakistan ? No. Has the PM disassociated himself with the minister's party ? No.
why don't they tried the minister as per the constitution of Pakistan!