CHIEF Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the Muslims, from Casablanca to Kuala Lumpur, have proved through strong protests against the profane film that they will not tolerate any blasphemy against the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

He said the anger and resentment of the Muslims was a natural reaction and it had been proved that a Muslim could sacrifice his life but could not tolerate disrespect to the Prophet (PBUH).

He said a strong protest was lodged from Peshawar to Karachi in the country; however, a positive message had not been conveyed to the international community due to the elements who resorted to violence during the demonstrations. He said the Ulema should guide the nation during such sensitive moments, adding that it was very lamentable that the public properties were damaged during demonstrations while both the killers and the slain were the Muslims.

Shahbaz was addressing the participants of “Azmat-e-Rehmatul-Lil-Aalameen Conference” held under the aegis of Punjab Auqaf and Religious Affairs department at the CM’s Secretariat on Monday.

He said the international community had adopted a dual standard against Islam as there was a punishment for talking against holocaust while if any sacrilegious act was committed against Islam, it only condemned it, saying it had no concern with the issue. However, he said, we would have to admit the fact that we ourselves were responsible for the West’s attitude against Islam, adding that the Aghyaar were taking advantage of our shortcomings and helplessness. He said had we not been with a begging bowl for a few pennies, the situation would have not arisen.

The CM said that we would have to eliminate hypocrisy and hatred from our ranks by utilizing our wisdom and energies. He lamented that on 27th of Ramazanul Mubarak the persons who were going to celebrate Eid at their homes were killed after checking their identity cards. When a Muslim killed another Muslim, the others would laugh at us, he said, adding that the incidents of terrorism in the country were a question mark for us.

He said the purpose of the conference was to evolve a joint strategy to foil the conspiracies of the enemies who were looking for an opportunity to strike on us. He said protests were launched in Turkey, Iran, Malaysia and the whole Islamic world but the way it was lodged in Pakistan proved to be counterproductive.

He said during the protests against sacrilegious film there was need to shun violence and demand that the blasphemer be brought to international court of justice but it was regrettable that the miscreants carried out their nefarious activities.