LAHORE – The Tehreek-e-Hurmat-e-Rasool organised a rally at the Nasir Bagh on Sunday to protest against statements of Pope Benedict XVI calling for repeal of the blasphemy laws. The protest began its journey from the Nasir Bagh at 11:30am and concluded at the Punjab Assembly (PA).
Protesters were holding banners and placards and chanted slogans against the Pope’s statements. People from all over Punjab joined the protest on motorcycles, cars, buses and foot while members of the religious outfit reached Lahore on buses and trucks to attend the rally.
Large police contingents were deployed on the rally’s route to avoid any untoward incident. The rally was led by Abdur Rehman Makki, Maulana Ameer Hamza and others. Ahl-e-Sunnat Pakistan leader Ahmad Kasuri said that the nation is ready to do anything for protecting the blasphemy laws and ready to sacrifice lives for this cause.
Muttahida Jamiat Majlis-e-Pakistan leader Razaullah Bokhari said that Muslims are ready to go out of the way to protect the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He said that even if the federal government tries to change the blasphemy laws and protect the accused, the nation would foil all such plans.
Bokhari said that religious parties could bare poverty and unemployment but would not tolerate anti-blasphemy laws statements.
Religious leaders expressed their concerns over the Pope’s statement and said that no negligence would be tolerated against the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
They said that the pope should restrain from issuing such statements, as the whole Islamic world was concerned over the issue. The religious leaders said that Benedict XVI should have shown responsibility while issuing such statements. They condemned the pontiff’s statements against Islam and Pakistan.
