PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD – Expressing anger and resentment over the desecration of holy Quran by US pastors Terry Jones and Wayne Sapp, various student organisations staged protest demonstrations against the act on Friday.
Condemning the incident, activists of Muslim Students Federation (MSF), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, and Mukhtar Organisation, a Shia-backed group, gathered outside the cantonment railway station to register their protest. The rallies were led by KP MSF senior vice president Muslim Khan and district president Zafarullah, while Mukhtar Organisation procession spearheaded by scores of activists and workers.
The infuriated protesters called for a complete boycott of American and multi-national products after the profane act by the inhuman priests. Speaking on the occasion, Mukhtar Organisation activists called upon Muslim leaders, ummah and Islamic organisations to stand united to protect the sanctity of the holy Quran. “Our unity will foil the nefarious designs of American and Western states,” they maintained. “Nobody can insult the holy Quran.”
The protesters demanded US President Barack Obama to take notice of the blasphemous act. The constant profane incidents were hurting the sentiments of Muslims, the protesters said, asking the US president to give up the Nobel Award after the incident. MSF activists denounced the desecration of the holy Quran by the pastors, saying Muslims had become united against colonial and anti-Islamic powers.
“We will not tolerate blasphemy of the holy Quran”, they said, vowing to foil all conspiracies against the Muslim world. The protesters called on Muslim rulers to carryout a worldwide protest and resentment against the blasphemy and urged the United Nations (UN) to adopt a resolution in this regard. In Khyber Agency, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Landikotal chapter held a protest demonstration in Landikotal bazaar against the US pastor.
Addressing the gathering, JI leader Zarnoor Afridi said Islam was a religion of peace and taught us rules of humanity, but the US was involved in various plots against Muslims and was testing their patience. Afridi asked Pakistani rulers to cut-off diplomatic ties with the US.
Meanwhile, several religious parties on Friday staged protest demonstration against the Florida-based pastor, Terry Jones, who burnt a copy of the Holy Quran. A large number of demonstrators led by Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (JUI-F) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) blocked the service road in the Blue Area of Islamabad. The demonstrators chanted slogans against the United States and Terry Jones.
Addressing the protestors, former federal minister for Science and Technology Azam Khan Swati said some forces had hatched conspiracies against the Muslims to provoke them, adding that Islam did not allow any one to harm the sentiments of the followers of other religions whereas the act of Terry Jones had badly thumped the emotions of Muslim community.
JI Mian Muhammad Aslam of JI said Muslims could render every sacrifice for their religion. He vowed that his party would never remain silent on the desecration of the Holy Quran and demanded the government to urge the UN to take strict steps against Terry.
Meanwhile, the Trader Organising Committee (TOC) and JI workers staged another demonstration at the G-9 bus stop.
Protesters decry desecration of Quran
