RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD - The residents in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi observed complete strike on Friday on the occasion of Youm-e-Ishq-Rasool (PBUH) to record countrywide protests against the blasphemous American movie.
All the traders and business community observed complete shutter down strike across the division while transporters remained their vehicles off from roads. All the filling stations remained closed.
Earlier, tens of thousands of people including religious and political parties, students, lawyers, traders, vendors, labourers and many others poured on the roads and in streets to observe Yaum-e-Ishq-e-Rasool (SAW), as government declared Friday as public holiday in honour of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and called for peaceful protests against a US-produced film deemed insulting Islam.
Wearing black ribbons and handkerchiefs over their head mentioning Kalma Tayaba, the protestors carried bamboos and bellowed slogans against US, Israel and Pakistan government. They also burnt tyres and US flags and stuffed Obama and film producer.
The most echoed slogan, chanted by enraged protestors, was simple “Death to film producer who made anti-Islam film”. They demanded of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani to halt NATO supply as he did after Salala Check Post incident so that the West stopped defaming the religious figures of Muslims.
The legislators of ruling party in the province including Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Malik Abrar Ahmed, Sheryar Riaz, Zia Ullah Shah and Raja Hanif Advocate took out protest rallies from their respective constituencies, chanting slogans against President Asif Ali Zardari, US government and the film producer and setting tyres, US flags and President Obama’s effigies to fire to vent their anger against the devilish act of film producer.
Nonetheless, all the MNAs and MPAs except Zia Ullah Shah, went back their homes after photo session in media, leaving the protestors uncontrolled, who later played havoc in the city. PML-N Women Wing’s office bearer Zaib-un-Nisa along with six other members also present at Faizabad Bridge reciting Darood Sharif.
Addressing a mammoth gathering at Faizabad, Sunni Tehrik (ST) Rawalpindi President Allama Tahir Iqbal Chishti vehemently condemned the anti-Islam movie, saying it hurt the sentiments of Muslims. He urged the gathering to surround US Embassy in Islamabad acting on which thousands of protestors moved towards Islamabad.
Traders also poured on BBR, in numbering of thousands, and staged protest demos at various points by torching tyres and US flags and Obama’s effigies to vent their anger against anti-Islam movie.
Shabab-e-Islami Pakistan Head Mufti Hanif Qureshi brought out a massive rally from Dhoke Kala Khan while Zia-ul-Aloom’s Mohtamim Syed Zia-ur-Rehman carried out a big rally from Madni Mohala to denounce the film produced in US.
A protest demo was also staged by Jamat-e-Islami activists at Faizabad urging the government to break its relations with US and kick out her Ambassador from Pakistan.
Crime and Court Reporters Association Rawalpindi (CCRAR), under the leadership of its president Rahat Munir, also marched on BBR to protest the anti-Islam movie.
Chanting “Allah-o-Akbar”, “We are the slave of Prophet (PBUH)” and “We will sacrifice our lives, children and properties to guard the dignity of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW)” scores of protestors belonged to Kalyar village, Anjuman-e-Tajran Adyala Road, Tehrik-e-Ishat Islam, PTI Gulshan-e-Abad chapter, members of Adyala Press Club and Jamia Majid Bahar-e-Madina, poured on Adyala Road to condemned the movie deemed defaming Islam. The protest rally was led by Raja Imran Javed, Raja Suhail of PTI and Molvie Bashir, president Adyala Press Club, and Raja Aamir.
They set Obama and US film producer’s effigies a blaze at Khuwaja Corporation. Protest rallies were also taken at Dhamial, Hayyal and Chakri Road during which the protestors bellowed anti-American slogans and beaten the portraits of Obama with shoes and later set blazed to vent their anger against a movie produced by a US man. Awami Ittehad Dheri Hassanabad and scores of their residents held a demo at Bakra Mandi Chowk by burning tyres to denounce the anti-Islam film. Thick clouds of black smoke could be witnessed even from miles away. Similarly, a protest rally was also carried out jointly by CBA Union ARL and Markazi Millad Committee Morgah. The protesters burnt US President Barrack Obama’s effigy at GT Road.
Online adds: Islamabad traffic police stopped the entry points to Islamabad till 6:00 in the evening, on the directives of the federal interior ministry.
Meanwhile, protests against anti-Islam film and blasphemous cartoons continued Friday morning as well in the twin cities where protesters took to the streets and pelted stones on the vehicles.
According to sources, demonstrators from the suburban areas surrounding the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi occupied the streets in Pir Wadhai area and blocked the road for traffic. The demonstrators kept on marching at IJP Road and pelted stones on the moving vehicles. The angry mob also torched the toll plaza at IJP road after damaging the plaza’s cabins and signboards along the road.