Thousands of Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) activists marched in protest against sacrilegious movie ‘Innocence of Muslims’ on Monday.
Ikramullah Shahid, the former deputy speaker of the provincial assembly under the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), announced a bounty of $200,000 for killing the filmmaker.
The rally started from the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) provincial headquarters on GT Road. It passed by the General Bus Stand, Gulbahar, Hashtnagri, Firdous,Rehman Baba Square, Sher Shah Suri Road, Sunehri Masjid Road, Khadim Hussain Road and ended on Shama Chowk on University Road. The rally concluded peacefully at Spin Jumat (White Mosque) near Peshawar University.
No untoward incident was reported and strict security measures were taken amid fears of violence. The rally was not given permission to pass through Khyber Road.
Although negotiations with the district administration were ongoing until Sunday night, government officials did not give in to the DPC’s demands.
Traffic was minimal with public transportation unavailable, while shops and business remained closed. While missionary schools remained shut, most private schools and universities had low attendance.
DPC Chief Maulana Samiul Haq, JI Chief Syed Munawar Hassan, Jamatud Dawa (JuD) leader Hafiz Saeed, Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) Chief Maulana Mohammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, Ansarul Ummah Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil and former ISI Chief General (R) Hamid Gul addressed the crowd.
They blamed the US for the blasphemous movie and said it was an act of war against Muslims, not freedom of speech. Hafiz Saeed reiterated this point and said blasphemy is the worst form of terrorism. He also informed the audience of the recently published caricatures of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) in a French magazine.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUIS) Chief Maulana Samiul Haq called on the public to stand up and make their voices heard for the enforcement of Islamic rule.
Maulana Khalil criticised the government over the deaths of 19 people on Ishq-e-Rasool (pbuh) day. He highlighted the DPC’s protest as an example of peaceful demonstration.
He said the government cannot bargain over the honour of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), adding that jihad has become obligatory on all Muslims following the recent film clip.
Former intelligence chief, General (retd) Hamid Gul, said that the West is aiding attacks on Muslim sensitivities. Blasphemy has united Muslim all over the world, he said. Gul demanded that the government ask the US to extradite the filmmaker to Pakistan.
He added that Nato supplies and drone attacks must be stopped.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2012.