Why does so much controversy always seem to be stemming from our country? This time around, Railway Minister Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour’s offer of a $100,000 bounty for the head of the man who made the controversial video, Innocence of Muslims, finds us in the eye of the storm.
Bilour, a veteran ANP leader, should know better. As he himself has accepted, he is, in fact, instigating murder and thereby committing a crime. The fact that he is aware of this and willing to bear the consequences does not alter his intended-to-incite statement. At a time when we need the frenzy over the video to fade away, Bilour has created more hype by calling on elements of al Qaeda and the Taliban to kill the film-maker and also appealing to the ‘rich people’ to donate money for this cause.
Fortunately, the federal government has had the good sense to completely dissociate itself from the ‘bounty’ offer. A spokesman said an explanation would be sought and the ANP leader spoken to. Indeed, members of the ANP themselves seem stunned by Bilour’s comment and his assertion that he is answerable only to the Holy Prophet (pbuh), They have asserted that his statement reflects his views alone and not the party’s. An ANP MNA, Bushra Gohar, has described Bilour’s statement as a criminal act. Bilour deserves to be penalised, though the danger following this would be that he will be upheld as a hero by extremists, creating further problems for taking such an action.
No one with any degree of wisdom condones the film. But what we do need to understand is that its makers would be hit hardest if Muslims simply chose to ignore it and refused to further its publicity. Bilour has done just the opposite; his ‘reward for head’ saga will only complicate matters. It seems obvious that, at the very least, he needs to be removed from his cabinet post and persuaded to refrain from making any further calls to seek death or demand extremist acts in this fashion. Such actions only push our country further away from a place in the civilised world.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2012.
COMMENTS (24)
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Kindly learn to watch the intention behind concept of Freedom Of Speech.Obama sis of the view that he cannot ban the movie because it would hurt the concept of american liberty.It is illegal to dsecrate and disrespect the U.S flag in america then why disrespect a Holy man (PBUH) who is revered by over a billion people.That's pure bigotry.Isn't it?
@Haroon Usman: "By the way have liberal idiots like you ever noticed that it’s always Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who is blasphemed against or sometimes it’s Jesus (PBUH).Prophet Moses (PBUH) who is revered most highly by jews is never insulted so we can very well make out who is always behind this"
Watch southpark and you will find how all religions are made fun off. There are tons of movies making fun of Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and also some made by people of the same faith. They understand to develop as a society and culture one needs to criticize and ridicule aspects of religion that dont apply in society today. Very ignorant comments. No buildings were burnt, no people were killed after these videos. Life goes on. Some people have a laugh, some people are offended but I doubt many lose sleep over it. There are always LEGAL ways to protest.
This from a man who professes to follow in the footsteps of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, who was nonviolent and led 100,000 Pashtuns nonviolently against the British?! He has libeled his party by his association, and its honour requires his expulsion to expunge the insult.
If your govt doesn't support his statements then they should remove him from office --- until that happens the USA and it's allies should send your Ambassadors back to Pakistan as a reminder that some actions won't be tolerated.
Lets see how many extra votes he gets in th next general elections just because of this one statement....
In his playing to the gallery, Bilour has committed the great sin of "shirk" by saying he is answerable to his prophet.
This might come as news to him and many others in Pakistan but we are all answerable to Allah swt not the Prophet (pbuh). Even the Prophet (pbuh) is answerable to Allah swt.
I wonder if someone will offer a bounty for Bilour's head as surely "shirk" is a greater crime than blasphemy.
I think the best way to respect Prophet is(PBUH) to follow his teaching
The British government can prevent him from entering in the UK where he and his brothers spend most of the parts of the year in their family owned properties. All the Sharifs, Altafs, Zardaris and Bilours should think twice before they give thrillinig statemts to fool the gullibles in Pakistan, as their future in their "real" countries is at stake...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9561884/Ban-Pakistani-minister-from-Britain-say-MPs.html
May be ET editorial board should have taken its own advise and ignore Mr. Bilour, its not like Govt and ANP haven't already distanced themselves, one one hand you ask ppl to ignore on other hand you keep the issue alive by posting editorials, blogs and news. I mean make up your own mind.
I would disagree with both extreme responses 1) to kill 2) to ignore. A civilised protest should be done to force to enact an international law that protects the Holy figures of any religon.
Railway's minister? he should spend the money on Pak railways,
he want to hide the death of those persons who were killed by police in protecting hi cinema ; and he created new issue; actually he wants to turn attention from his crimes and of police who killed one cameraman of ARY channel
How did such guy get into politics? I'm sure he never went through the basics when he got into politics. If he had done so, then i'm sure he would have known when to be diplomatic when making a speech. Well, i wonder what happens to him next.
I wonder how disappointed and angered that crazy Fish-Tail would have been if the entire Arab World had kept silent and un-interested in the stupid Movie.
This episode could have been avoided if Pakistan Govt had issued a warrant of arrest against th coptic Egyptian, and demanded extradition of the accused from the USA.. Violence is not a substitute and can not be justified under any circumstances. Pakistan current Govt does not represent ts people who went on ramage aftrr their non violent protests against the USA Embassy was forcefully stopped. The USA is the only country which misinterprets freedom of expression and freedom of press in such a way that muslims in the USA can no longer practice their faith freely and without coersion.
Rex Minor
This is not Ishq-e-Rasool, but a cheap publicity stunt.
i would give Mr. bilour $100,000 for fixing Pak Railways.. but then he draws much more out of the Railways mess.. would he accept my offer? don't think so !
What a perverse way of showing respect for our revered prophet ( pbuh ) . However , it appears the real motivation of Mr Blour lies elswhere . What he is alleged to have done with the national railways , and the reckless manner in which this national asset has been plundered and bled into a comatose state is one of the blackest episodes of corruption in the country . He has tried to regain some credibility , some sense of respectabiliy through his action .
"his assertion that he is answerable only to the Holy Prophet (pbuh)" Odd thing to say. I can't think of any religion that says they are answerable to anyone other than their God. I'm certainly no authority on the contents of the Quran and the prophet but, from what I gather, the prophet would end up telling him not to do that. If I can see that and not him, I can't imagine he's much of a Muslim.
Holy prophet (pubh) Taught us of restraints,forgiveness,mercy,tollerance,affections,gracefullnes. Do we see any of the above practiced by mullahs and their followers,certainly none. Is this Islam friendship or Islam enmity?. A famous poet said about mullah as-Deen-e- mullah fi sabillah fasad-
He is one of the most corrupt and incompetent politician. He is all what is wrong with Pakistan today.