Thousands of protesters under the banner of Sunni Tehreek and various other Ahle Sunnat groups marched down MA Jinnah Road till TIbet Centre to register their protest against the controversial caricatures published in the French satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo. PHOTO: AFP
Thousands of people took to the streets on Thursday in what was the largest among the series of protest demonstrations against the French satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo, for publishing blasphemous caricatures.
The rally was organised by the Pakistan Sunni Tehreek, along with various Ahle Sunnat religious groups. The protesters carried green flags and held placards demanding capital punishment for the blasphemers. They screamed slogans, such as ‘down with Charlie Hebdo, down with the blasphemers’, as they marched down MA Jinnah Road till Tibet Centre.
The police blocked various thoroughfares leading towards MA Jinnah Road for general commuters since earlier in the morning. The security measures led to massive traffic jams on alternative routes, including Saddar Corridor-III and Sharae Faisal.
Sunni Tehreek chief Sarwat Ejaz Qadri demanded the Pakistan government to cut off diplomatic ties with France. “The [French] ambassador should be declared persona non grata and must be expelled from the country,” said Qadri, adding that the Organisation of Islamic Conference and the United Nations should take action against the countries promoting publication of blasphemous material.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2015.
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