HARIPUR: Leaders and activists of religious parties, social organisations and traders held rallies in several cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday to record their protest against the derogatory remarks made by leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) about Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and called for boycott of Indian products.

In Haripur, Jamaat-i-Islami’s local chapter demanded of the government to expelthe Indian ambassador from Pakistan and ban aviation route and products as reaction to the blasphemous remarks.

The JI workers staged a protest after Friday prayers and demanded of the government to immediately stop imports from India and expel its ambassador as reaction to the use of blasphemous language against the Holy Prophet. Those who addressed the rally included Ghazan Iqbal, Tahir Atiq and Malik Abdul Razzaq.

The workers of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Muttahida Ulema Council, Sipah-i-Sahaba, different traders and student bodies also organised a protest rally that ended at Siddique-i-Akbar Chowk.

The speakers expressed their resentment over the blasphemous remarks by the BJP officials and urged the government to sever diplomatic and trade relations with India.

Protesters ask govt to sever diplomatic, trade ties with India

In Lower Dir, hundreds of JI workers and other people held a rally where they chanted slogans against the BJP lawmakers. They marched from Balambat and gathered outside Timergara Press Club.

The rally was addressed by JI district chief Izazul Mulk and other leaders. They called upon the international community and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to take practical steps for stopping such blasphemous acts.

Sadaat Samaji Tanzeem and JUI-F also held similar protest rallies in Timergara and other parts of the district.

The rally was addressed by SST divisional president Sultan Yousaf, district president Mustaqim Jan, Dr Gohar Shah and others.

The speakers said that the government should immediately sever its diplomatic ties with India as a protest against the incident. They said the Indian government too should take the matter seriously.

In Swabi, people of Razaar tehsil staged a protest rally on Friday against the Indian leaders who had made blasphemous remarks. They also chanted anti-India slogans.

In Kohat, the protesters at a meeting held under the All Tajir Ittehad adopted a resolution to boycott Indian products in protest against the blasphemous remarks by BJP spokesperson.

The United Ulema Council, Kohat division, and the caretaker of madressahs, Maulana Mujahidden, appealed to the OIC states to censure India in strongest possible terms.

The protest by traders was also participated by the minorities, social organisations, presidents of all bazaars and incumbent and former chairman of local bodies.

In Mohmand, JI and JUI-F workers staged rallies in Mian Mandi Bazaar to record their protest against the blasphemous remarks by BJP officials.

JI district chief Mohammad Saeed Khan and JUI-F chief Maulana Mohammad Arif demanded severing diplomatic relations with India. The speakers also announced to boycott purchase of Indian products. They called for immediate meeting of the OIC and an end to diplomatic ties with the BJP-led Indian government.

Published in Dawn,June 11th, 2022