Protest Wave Spreads Across Pakistan

Lahore (Reported by our staff reporter and correspondent from Khabar Nagar, Repatigan Express) – In response to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s call to denounce the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden, Holy Quran Day was observed on Friday. Large numbers of people from various religious and political parties, business organizations, lawyers, and individuals from all walks of life participated in protests held in major cities including Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan. I actively took part in these protests and demanded that the international community take serious notice of the desecration of the Holy Quran. The protesters emphasized the need for a concrete action plan to prevent such incidents in the future.

In the provincial capital of Lahore, a protest was organized outside Shahada Mosque by the Muslim League (N) and the business community. The demonstration was led by Malik Saiful Mulok Khokhar, the President of the Lahore chapter of the Muslim League (N). Notable leaders including Ghazali Saleem Butt, Malik Waheed, Mehrash Tapaq, Malik Riaz, Majid Zahoor, Syed Tauseef Shah, Sibghatullah Sultan, Aamir Khan, Hafiz Nauman, Colonel (Rtd) Mubasher, Mian Tariq Nazir Khan Swati, Mian Mehmood, and traders were present at the protest. Muhammad Shabbir Labha, Naeem Mir, and other leaders also participated. The protesters marched from Masjid Shahada to Regal Chowk and held a protest meeting at Hall Road, where Malik Saiful Mulok Khokhar addressed the gathering. In solidarity, traders closed their businesses to participate in the protests. Additionally, traders from Pomegranate Bazar staged their own protest after the Friday prayers.

Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore organized a protest demonstration on Mansoora Multan Road, where demonstrators, led by the Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Amir-ul-Azeem, chanted slogans against the governments of Sweden, America, and Israel. The Swedish flag was also burnt as a symbol of protest. The Quran and Sunnah Movement Pakistan also held a protest, with Allama Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer, the chairman of the organization, delivering a speech. He asserted that the Holy Quran is a red line for Muslims and that any disrespect towards it cannot be tolerated. He called for the expulsion of the Swedish ambassador and the severing of diplomatic and trade relations with Sweden.

Upon the Central Muslim League’s appeal, a grand Holy Quran rally was conducted from Regal Chowk to the Press Club in Lahore. The protest and rally were addressed by Pakistan Central Muslim League President Khalid Masood Sindhu, General Secretary Mohammad Azam Chaudhry, Vice President Faisal Nadeem, Muzamil Iqbal Hashmi, Engineer Haris Dar, and other leaders.

Tehreek Labeek Yar Sol Allah, Tehreek Sarat Tessim, and Jalaliya Ulama Kon Salne also observed “Quran Protection Day” and organized protests and rallies after Friday prayers. In Rawalpindi, rallies were held by the Muslim League (N), Tehreek-e-Insaaf, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, Jamaat Ahl-Sunnat, WASA, Railway Workers Union, businessmen, and ordinary citizens. These rallies resulted in severe traffic congestion on Murree Road. A protest demonstration took place at Liaquat Chowk on Murree Road. The Shia Ulema Council of Pakistan commemorated the “Magnificence of the Quran Day” with Allama Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi, the Quaid-e-Millat Jafaria Pakistan, stressing the importance of the international community addressing the issue of desecration. The Christian community in Gujranwala also joined the protest.

In Multan, the labor wing of Jamaat-e-Islami organized a rally from Eidgah to Chowk Kachheri, while lawyers in Sargodha took out a protest rally from the district bar room. Bahawalnagar saw a rally organized by the Pakistan Central Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami, and Lodhran witnessed a protest organized solely by the Pakistan Central Muslim League. Jamaat-e-Islami protested in front of the Press Club in Muzaffargarh. In Karachi, various rallies and processions were held in different areas of the city following Friday prayers.