The United States Monday deplored Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour’s announcement of a bounty for an anti-Islam filmmaker, while also making note of the Pakistani government’s disowning the cabinet member’s statement.
The film, made and posted on the Internet in the United States, contains sacrilegious content and has caused widespread protests and violent demonstrations against American diplomatic missions around the world.
A State Department official, when asked to comment on Bilour’s weekend offer of $ 100,000 as bounty for the filmmaker’s head, drew attention to the Obama Administration’s condemnation of the video.
“The President (Barack Obama) and Secretary of State (Hillary Clinton) have both said the video at the core of this is offensive, disgusting, and reprehensible but that is no justification for violence and it is important for responsible leaders to stand up and speak out against violence,” the official reminded.
“Therefore, we find Mr. Bilour’s announcement is inflammatory and inappropriate. We note that the Prime Minister’s office has dissociated itself from his comments,” the official said in a statement.
In Islamabad, the Foreign Ministry termed Bilour’s statement as his personal view and not reflecting the policy of the Government of Pakistan.
EU ‘deplores’ Pakistan bounty call for anti-Islam film”
The European Union deplored Monday the call by a Pakistani minister for a $100,000 bounty to be put on the head of the maker of an anti-Islam film which has sparked deadly protests around the world.
“We deplore the call for a bounty,” Michael Mann, spokesman for EU foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton, told a press briefing.
“We are particularly concerned that this call should come from a member of the government even if the prime minister… has dissociated himself” from the remarks, Mann added.
Bilour refuses to withdraw offer
Federal Railways Minister Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour on Monday refused to withdraw his announcement of a $100,000 head money for the US producer of the blasphemous film despite strong US reaction and pressure by the government and the Awami National Party. Sources said Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf spoke to Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali Khan over the issue. The ANP also took Bashir Bilour and Senator Ilyas Bilour into confidence and asked them to persuade Ghulam Bilour to withdraw the statement. However, the sources said the railways minister said he was bound by religion and as a Pakistani Muslim and Pashtun, there was no question of his taking back the announcement. He said he would remain committed to his stance and it did not matter to him if someone was annoyed by his decision.
It seems that the insecurity and volatility of Muslims on all matters having to do with religion have given rise to an entire cottage industry of pranksters who have learned how to push their buttons. Muslims should get used to the idea that some people don't like Islam just as we Muslims don't like Hinduism, and Sunnis don't like Shiaism or Ahmedism: and they should be thankful that those individuals choose to express their dislike only with books, cartoons and videos and not with murder and mayhem.
How the hell US can say that the bounty offer by the Pakistani minister is inflammatory? Who started the provocation of Muslims? Who allowed that anti-Islam film on the Internet ? Who has not taken any action against the Goggle for not removing the film from the You Tube? And now the US has the guts to tell we Pakistani's that our Honourable and Brave Mr. Ghaulam Ahmad Bilour has not done the right thing in announcing the head money for the makers of the anti-Islam film.
First US should explain under which law and for which crimes, it announced reward money on Hafiz Saeed Sahib? Was it not an inflammatory action on behalf of US to just please Indians on the eve of the meeting of Indo-Pak ministers?
America is thoroughly exposed and must now stop its mischiefs.
m totally agree with nayyar. american offcial said that they have nothing to do wiht this movie and they have no link with this then why the are intrupting now. mr balour said 100% correct. and america has no right to condem this now.
lions are the sons of lion mothers, jackales are the sons of jackal mothers
AS I said earlier the minister talks sense sometimes.
Even though one can never tell what he is saying
How the hell US can say that the bounty offer by the Pakistani minister is inflammatory? Who started the provocation of Muslims? Who allowed that anti-Islam film on the Internet ? Who has not taken any action against the Goggle. for not removing the film from the You Tube? And now the US has the guts to tell we Pakistani's, that our Honourable and Brave minister, Mr. Ghaulam Ahmad Bilour, has not done the right thing, in announcing the head money for the makers of the anti-Islam film.
Firstly, the US should explain under which law and for which crimes, it announced reward money on Hafiz Saeed? Was it not an inflammatory action on behalf of US, to just please Indians, on the eve of the meeting of Indo-Pak ministers?
America is thoroughly exposed and must now stop its mischiefs.
All mishappen America is responsible HATE HATE HATE America
Sohail Ahmed
people are taking actions because the govt is not taking positive actions. govt should close nato supply in this regard then america will think about it
US might know the repute of this misnter that what havoc he is creation gin this misntry ot put railway in coffin and for running bus industry to his pukhtoon families,If they would have known it surely they would call him real terrorist of Pakistan who is officially destroying railways structure of Pakistan and morality of poor Pakistanis through his stupid announcement.
Clinton yesterday given an excellent statement in this regard few lines are
We weren't disrespecting Islam by not squelching a film trailer that nobody in authority knew anything about; that 99 percent of us think was crude, and disrespectful, and awful," he said. "We have learned the hard way, over more than 200 years, that in order to preserve freedom, and liberty, including the freedom of religion, you have to allow people to say and do things that you find abhorrent. And you can't react every time you're insulted."
anyone who posts in favor of an idiot who is inciting violence just show their own primitiveness and stupidity.
I find it amusing that leaders of a country that cannot even run there own country well , every day there are killings and hate speech and sectarian killings , have the audacity to call a silly movie as hate speech.
agreed
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