PESHAWAR - Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour has announced 100,000 dollars bounty on a filmmaker who made anti-Islam film that sparked protest across the Muslim world.
The minister on Saturday said, “We won’t tolerate such films.” He said that the issue of profane movie, ‘Innocence of Muslims’, could only be resolved by killing the filmmaker. He said the rich people should donate money for the purpose.
Speaking here at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, the federal minister said that he was aware that it was a crime to instigate the people for murder, but he was ready to commit the crime. He added there was no way to instil fear among blasphemers other than taking this step. The federal minister, who belongs to Awami National Party (ANP) that rules Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and is considered secular in disposition, also called on members of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda for their support, saying that if members of the banned militant organisations kill the maker of the movie, they will also be rewarded.
“If a case is lodged against me in the international court, I will ask people to hand me over to them. I want to show these countries that we will not tolerate any such things,” he said, adding that he was ready to be hanged in the name of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). “We are ready to give all kind of sacrifices to protect the dignity and honour of the Holy Prophet (PBUH),” he announced.
In order to stop recurring of such acts of profanity, Bilour said, there was a need for legislation at international level; otherwise, the situation would get further complicated across the world. The filmmaker, he added, had played with feelings of Muslims across the globe. He explained that they were not against the freedom of expression, but the misuse of this freedom for hurting the religious sentiments of others was totally wrong and intolerable.
The low-budget film has sparked fury and rage across much of the Muslim world, including Pakistan. At least 23 people were killed and over 200 injured across the country on Friday — a day designated by the government to demonstrate love for Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and condemn the anti-Islam video.
Expressing grave concern over the riots during the ‘Yaum-e-Ishq-e-Rasool’, Bilour said that this is not the way to condemn the sacrilegious movie. He said they were in support of peaceful protests and demonstrations against the profane film, but the riots and panic on occasion of the worthy day, didn’t suit the Muslims.
Bilour in strong words condemned the killing of a driver of private news channel and six others during the protest demonstrations in the KPK. He also condemned the burning of a church in Mardan by the protesters and expressed grief over the incident.
He said that Islam gives greater respect to all religions, but the Western world has no respect for Islam. “Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and people belonging to any religion living in our country are like brethren, and our basic duty is to protect all the worship places; otherwise, mosques would also be under threat in Western countries,” he explained.