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.
US terms Bilour’s bounty offer inflammatory
