Pakistan to observe ‘Love Prophet Day’ tomorrow

Pakistan has announced to observe “Love Prophet Day” on Friday.
Earlier on Thursday, hundreds of students and protesters entered red zone of the capital city and tried to approach the diplomatic enclave in order to protest outside US embassy.
Police fired tear gas shells and baton charged the protesters to stop them from moving forward.
A complete shutter down and traffic jam strike would be observed tomorrow (Friday) across Pakistan as the government has announced a public holiday to celebrate ‘Love the Prophet Day’ in honor of the Prophet and against the blasphemous film created in US that sparked violent protests across the Muslim world.
Various political and religious parties have announced to organize public rallies to protest against the anti-Islam movie in all large and small cities and towns across the country.
US diplomatic missions in Pakistan would also be closed for public dealing on Friday while security arrangements have been tightened around American consulates and embassies in the country to avoid any mishap.
US embassy in Islamabad confirmed the closure of its diplomatic missions in Pakistan on Friday.
Pakistan government on Wednesday decided to observe the coming Friday as ‘Love the Prophet Day’ and declared it a national holiday, condemning an anti-Islam film that has triggered unrest and protests across the Muslim world.
Chairing a meeting of his cabinet, PM Raja Pervez Ashraf called on people to protest peacefully against the film.
The cabinet set aside its agenda to condemn the anti-Islam film and decided to observe September 21 as ‘Youm-e-Ishq-e-Rasool’ or ‘Love the Prophet Day’ to convey the government’s protest against the film. The day was also declared a national holiday.
“I intend that a message should go to the world that the federal cabinet of Pakistan strongly condemns this sacrilegious film which has created unrest amongst Muslims. At this moment, I call upon the people of Pakistan to register their protest peacefully but to observe restraint and not to damage their own property,” Ashraf said.
The PM said he had already directed the information technology ministry to block YouTube “to register our protest at the availability of this sacrilegious film on the website” and to demand its immediate removal.
Ashraf suspended all items on the agenda for the cabinet meeting, which discussed ways to express Pakistan’s resentment over the film.