ISLAMABAD/RAWALPIDI - People from different walks of life on Thursday held protest demonstrations and took out rallies throughout the district against a blasphemous movie that had triggered a wave of anguish across the Muslim world.
The Punjab Teachers Association took out a peaceful rally in which hundreds of male and female teachers from across the district participated.
The rally started from the Rawalpindi Press Club and took place in front of the office of the Executive District Officer (Education) near Committee Chowk.
The rally participants were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans against elements involved in making the film. They demanded of the government to take immediate and appropriate action.
Senior Vice President of the association, Imtiaz Ahmed Abbasi, District
President Syed Anwar Hussain Shah and senior leadership including Sajid Maqsood Abbasi, Najeeb Pasha, Hanif Abbasi and Raja Shahid led the rally.
The city traders observed a shutter-down strike to register their protest against the derogatory film on a joint call given by religious scholars and office bearers of traders’ associations.
Religious scholars including Qazi Mushtaq Ahmed, Aziz-ur-Rehman Hazarvi, Maulana Ashraf Ali, Maulana Chiragh Din Shah, Maulana Abdul Rauf, Mufti Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, Mufti Rizwan, Maulana Faisal and traders’ leaders including Sheikh Siddique, Sharjeel Mir, Ghafoor Paracha and Chaudhry Imran led the protest demonstrations in their respective areas.
Petrol and CNG services, transport and businesses would be closed on Friday in protest against the blasphemous film.
Petroleum Dealers Association’s secretary information has said that petroleum dealers would stand by their brothers, protesting against the anti-Islam movie, and all petrol pumps would remain closed in this regard.
Moreover, the transport alliance also has announced to hold a strike on Friday in protest against the anti-Islam movie.
All Pakistan CNG Association had announced to go on strike. On September 21, all CNG stations would remain closed in this regard.
APCNGA chairman Ghias Abdullah Paracha, while addressing a press conference, had said that the entire nation had been extremely hurt by the anti-Islam movie, which is why they have announced to keep CNG stations closed throughout Pakistan.
Criticizing the rulers, he said that the government had increased CNG prices by Rs 25 per kg which is diametrically unbearable and unacceptable for the users. He said that the authority of ascertaining petroleum prices should be taken back from oil marketing companies.
He also demanded that the gas development surcharge on CNG should also be decreased, adding that OGRA officials are in the habit of blackmailing them. He also warned that if their demands were not met, they would cordon off the OGRA office.