LAHORE\KARACHI\ISLAMABAD\PESHAWAR – Business activities ground to a halt on Friday as major markets across the country completely remained shut on the call of religious and political parties to protest against governmentÂ’s move to amend the Blasphemy Law.
Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat (TNR), alliance of over 60 religious and religio- political parties, had given call for the countrywide shutter-down to convey strong message to the rulers regarding sentiments of the faithful about the law.
Besides closure of major business centres, component parties of TNR organised Hurmat-e-Rasool (PBUH) conferences in major cities where speakers threw light on the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and highlighted the importance of the Blasphemy Law. Ulema and Khatibs highlighted Seerat-un-Nabi (PBUH) and the issue of blasphemy during Juma sermons while unanimous resolutions, supporting Blasphemy Law, were also adopted during thousands of congregations across the country. Several khatibs said any change to the law would happen “over our dead bodies”. After the Juma prayers, rallies and demonstrations were staged outside mosques all over the country including Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi and Quetta and Azad Kashmir.
Hundreds of thousands of peopled attending the rallies to raise their voice in support of the Blasphemy Law and against attempts by the government to change it.
The participants were carrying placards and banners inscribed with writings relating to the sanctity of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and importance of blasphemy law. Highly charged participants chanted slogans ‘Ghulami-e-Rasool (PBUH) main maut be kabool hai’, ‘death for those who commit blasphemy’ and ‘no one will be allowed to amend blasphemy law’.
They demanded that for showing sincerity, the government should initiate an action against Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer for campaigning against the law and it should also direct PPP MNA Sherry Rehman to withdraw the bill already tabled in the House.
The participants also chanted slogans against PPP MNA Sherry Rehman and Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer for supporting changes in the law and Christian lady Aasia Bibi, a blasphemy accused.
In a joint statement, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Sahbzada Abual Khair Zubair, Syed Munawar Hasan and Hafiz Muhammad Saeed maintained that the successful shutter-down strike had sent a strong message to the rulers, vowing that the nation would not allow them to undo the countryÂ’s Islamic identity under foreign pressure. They stated that the nation had demonstrated complete unity by closing all business. They urged the rulers and all political forces to get approved resolutions in support of Blasphemy Law from the National assembly and Senate.
In Lahore, Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat Mahaz organised Hurmat-e-Rasool rally outside the Lahore Press Club. Dr Raghib Hussain Naeemi, Athar-ul-Qadri, Raza-e-Mustafa, Muhammad Ali Naqashbandi, Nawaz Kharal, Ziaul Haq Naqashbandi, Hasseb Qadri and other led the rally.
Addressing the participants, Dr Raghib Naeemi warned the rulers against introducing any amendment to the law, saying that the Muslims would not accept any punishment less than death for any blasphemer. He vowed to utilise all energies for protecting blasphemy law.
Speaking at a rally in Mansehra, JI Amir Syed Munawar Hasan said the government assurance against any amendment in the law would be acceptable only if Prime Minister Gilani personally made an announcement to this effect on the floor of the Parliament. He said for showing sincerity, the government should initiate action against the Punjab Governor for campaigning against the law.
Addressing Juma congregation at Jamia Masjid Al-Qadsia, JamaÂ’at-ud-DaÂ’wa Chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed urged the rulers to make sincere efforts for persuading the world community to pass the law regarding death sentence for those committing blasphemy against all prophets. He suggested the UN to step in and pass blasphemy law for all countries.
In Karachi, Sahibzada Fazal Karim, Haji Hanif Tayyab and Sarwat Ijaz Qadri lead the mammoth rally. Sahibzada Khalid Sultan led a huge public gathering in Quetta, Akhlaq Jalali in Rawalpindi, Shadab Raza Naqashbandi in Faisalabad, Daud Rizvi in Gujranwala, Afzal Qadri at Gujrat, Mehfooz Mashadi at Mandi Bahauddin, Arif Saeedi at Sukkur, Safdar Gilani at Mianwali, Ajmal Gilani at Narang Mandi while Mufti Fazal-ur-Rehman led rally at Okara.
Besides these cities, massive demonstrations were also staged in Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Narowal, Pasrur, Muridke, Sialkot, Jhelum, Jhang, Kasur, Raiwind, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Kotli, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Tank and Burewala. Business centres and shops also remained closed in these cities.
In several major cities including Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar, small markets in residential areas were completely closed till at noon. However, some of the traders opened their shops in the afternoon.
In Karachi, complete but peaceful shutter-down strike was observed across the metropolis. There was no public transport in the city, where demonstrators blocked traffic. Daily routine life was suspended as shops and markets throughout the metropolis remained closed.
Transporters fully took party in strike to make it successful and effective.
However, private cars and motorcycles were seen plying on the roads.
The people staged huge and small rallies in various parts of the city to give vent to their anger against proposed changes to the Blasphemy Law.
Sunni Ittehad Council Chief Sahibzada Fazal Karim took out a big rally from Numaish Chowrangi to Shah Alam Bukhari Eidgah, which was attended by a large number of people.
Speaking to the participants, Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Fazal Karim threatened to launch a civil disobedience movement if the government tried to amend the law.
In Rawalpindi, on the call of Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat (TNR), traders observed a complete shutter-down strike in the city against rulersÂ’ shameful attempt to change the Blasphemy Law. All the markets, shopping centres and Bazaars remained closed at Saddar, Bank Road, Chick Bazaar, Ganjmandi, Liaquat Road, City Saddar Road, Sotter Mandi, and other areas of the city.
After Juma prayers, hundreds of thousands of traders and ulema belonging to different schools of thought held a protest demonstration at Committee Chowk giving a clear warning to the government that entire nation would march towards Islamabad if the rulers tried to make any amendment in law.
While addressing the protesters, the speakers demanded removal of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer from his office as well as of former federal minister Sherry Rehman from PPP for their alleged efforts to get passed the amendment bill from the Parliament.
They came down hard on Interior Minister Rehman Malik over his failure to recite of Surah-e-Ikhlas correctly. They said such politicians had no right to rule the country and they should step-down immediately.
In Peshawar, traders community also observed complete shutter-down against the proposed changes to the Blasphemy Law and demanded that the Christian woman should be handed for committing blasphemy. Businesses remained closed and city-wide rallies were held by the religious parties to record their protest.