Blasphemy law protests: Major markets shut but no violence

Near complete shutters-down strikes observed by traders in support of black day.

LAHORE: The Tahaffuz Namoos-i- Risalat’s (TNR) call to observe Friday as black day to record their protest against the federal government for allegedly trying to amend or repeal the blasphemy laws met with mixed results. Rallies were taken out from several mosques after the Friday prayers. A near complete shutters-down strike was also observed by traders in Lahore in support of the black day. The protesters also demanded an end to the foreign intervention in Pakistan’s internal affairs.

The TNR men demanded the suspension of Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentarian Sherry Rehman for submitting a bill for an amendment to the blasphemy laws and of Governor Salmaan Taseer for ‘favouring’ blasphemy convict Aasia Bibi.

Two of the major rallies were held at The Mall and Ichhra chowk on Ferozepur Road. The rally at The Mall had close to 500 people while the one on Ferozepur Road brought out about 200 people.

At the former, people leaving prayer congregations at neighbouring mosques gathered in front of Masjid-i-Shuhada and marched towards Charing Cross. They chanted slogans against the government and demanded that no changes be made to the blasphemy laws.

A heavy contingent of police tried to turn back the protesters near Charing Cross.  The crowd, however, could not be stopped and marched on to the Governor’s House, where protesters sat down for a while chanting slogans against Taseer.

The latter protest, at Ichhara chowk, was led by Aleemud Din Shakir, a leader of the Tahaffuz Khatm-i-Nabuwat. The participants were affiliated with Jamiat Ulema Deoband, Ahl-i-Sunnat Wal Jamat and Tanzim Ulema Ahl-i-Sunnat Ichhra.

Another significant demonstration was held under the leadership of Jamia Naeemia head Dr Raghib Naeemi. Naeemi told the protesters that the federal government must not touch the blasphemy laws. He said that if the government made any move to change the laws, Muslims would adopt the way of Ghazi Ilamud Din Shaheed in killing blasphemers. He said any move by the government favouring blasphemy convicts would spark a countrywide protest. He said all sects of Islam agree on death for blasphemers.

DIG Operations Rao Sardar Ali said they had deployed additional police force to ward off any untoward incident. He said although not many people took to the roads, the police was fully prepared to tackle any situation. He said large contingents of police force were deployed at The Mall. He added that the police had let the protesters make their way to the Governor’s House as they did not want a conflict.

Traders associations including Anjuman-i-Tajiran Lahore, Qaumi Tajir Ittehad, Ferozepur Road Traders Board, Gulberg Traders Board, Shah Alam Market Board, Lahore Sugar Dealers Association and Mall Road Traders Association backed a shutters-down. Rallies were taken out from offices of trade associations after Friday prayers. A rally led by Liberty Market Association president Sheikh Irfan and vice-president Sohail Sarfraz was taken out from Jamia Hanfia, Liberty Market. The protesters staged a memorial protest in Main Market, Gulberg.

Protesters on The Mall and Liberty Market demanded a ‘convincing’ clarification from the government about the ongoing confusion regarding the blasphemy laws.

They asked the government to show the same alertness it had shown when it nearly arrested Interior Minister Rehman Malik after his appeal was rejected. They said they would shun no sacrifice needed to foil the malicious goals of foreign powers.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2011.