Like other parts of the country, protest demonstrations and rallies were taken out in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad against blasphemous clips on the personality of Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).

On the nationwide protest call from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Central Amir Syed Munawwar, the JI leaders led protest demonstrations outside Lal Masjid and on Benazir Bhutto Road to condemn the derogatory act committed by a US pastor.

A protest rally was also taken out from the Cental Imambargah in Sector G-6. The charged protesters, while chanting slogans against the United States and the American pastor, tried to enter the Red Zone but they were stopped by a large contingent of police present there. Police resorted to baton-charge to disperse the protesters.

Addressing a protest rally outside Lal Masjid after ‘Juma’ prayers, Jamaat-e-Islami Naib Amir Zubair Farooq Khan termed the release of video clips as religious terrorism. He demanded of the government to immediately oust the US envoy from Islamabad.

The protest rally was also addressed by JUI-F leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, PML-N MNA Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Lieutenant General (r) Hamid Gul, traders’ leader Kashif Chaudhry, Shabab-e-Milli (Islamabad) President Rao Javed Akhtar, Maulana Abdul Razzaq Haideri and others.

Hamid Gul, speaking on the occasion, said that the western world, particularly the Jewish lobby, was involved in committing blasphemous acts to play with religious sentiments of Muslims all over the world.

Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said earlier the same US pastor committed the heinous crime of burning copies of Holy Qur’aan and now he had prepared a blasphemous film with the help of Israel.

Jamaat-e-Islami Rawalpindi Amir Sajjad Abbas led a protest demonstration of party workers on Benazir Road in front of ‘Rescue 1122’ office to register anger over the defamatory video.

Other JI local leaders, including Rizwan Ahmad, Syed Arshad Farooq, Raza Shah and others, were present on the occasion.

The protesters, carrying banners and placards, chanted slogans against the United States as the speakers asked the Pakistan government to expel the US envoy from Islamabad. They also threatened to march towards the US embassy from Rawalpindi.

Meanwhile, another protest demonstration was held outside the Qaba Mosque in I-8 Markaz which was addressed by Naib Amir of Jamaatud Dawaa Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki.

Many local demonstrations were also held at different places of twin cities, organised by religious parties including Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Tehreek Nifaz-e-Fiqah Jafaria etc.

Meanwhile, the Quaid-i-Millat Jafariya Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi has termed the blasphemous American film a heinous conspiracy of enemies of Islam. He termed it an open challenge to the honour and dignity of the religion and the ‘shariah’.

According to a press release, this he stated in his message on the beginning of ‘Ayyam Azmat-e-Islam’ being observed from Friday to Sunday throughout the country. He said it is binding for the whole Ummah and religions to protect the honour and dignity of prophets, Sha’air and Mashaheer-e-Islam and raise voice of protest against their desecration.

Agha Moosavi said that objective of observing three-day Ayyam Azmat-e-Islam is to raise voice of protest against the satanic activities of those who are humiliating Islam. He said at a time when atheist world was targeting Muslims and Muslim states, it was obligatory on the OIC to summon its emergent meeting to restore their credibility by adopting the joint stand that attack on any Islamic state will be considered as an attack on the whole Islamic World.