Protesters take to streets to denounce desecration of Holy Quran. Rawalpindi and Islamabad witnessed a series of rallies on Friday, organized by political and religious parties, traders, journalists, and members of civil society. The purpose of these rallies was to condemn the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden. Participants of the rallies held banners and placards displaying slogans against Sweden and in support of Islam. The police ensured tight security arrangements for the safety of the participants.
One of the rallies, led by Emir Punjab Pir Syed Inayyatul Haq Shah Sultanpuri, was organized by Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) in protest of the desecration of the Holy Quran by an Iraqi national in Sweden. The rally, named ‘Tahafuz-i-Quran,’ commenced from Liaquat Bagh and concluded at Faizabad. District Emir Haji Mohammad Ramzan Chishti, Naib Emir Haji Mohammad Ali Jamal, Qari Shafi Mohammad Qadri, Sahibzada Abdul Rehman Sialvi, Syed Mohammad Adeel Shah, and many others attended the rally. Placards bearing slogans such as ‘Down with Sweden,’ ‘Punish the accused involved in the desecration of the Quran,’ and ‘Islam Zindabad’ were held by the participants. The speakers strongly protested against the incident in Sweden and demanded a boycott of Swedish products by the government, along with the expulsion of the Swedish envoy from Pakistan.
Pakistan Sunni Tehreek also organized a significant rally on Murree Road to denounce the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden. The rally, which began at GPO Chowk in Saddar, culminated at the Rawalpindi Press Club. Allama Tahir Iqbal Chishti stated, “Showing disrespect to the Holy Quran is not a sign of freedom of expression.” He further emphasized that the leaders of the Muslim Ummah, particularly Pakistan, should take action against the Swedish terrorist to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. Jamaat-i-Islami leader Dr. Tariq Saleem also led a rally to condemn the Quran’s desecration in Sweden, urging the international community to play a crucial role in promoting peace. The District Bar Association also organized a rally to denounce the incident, with participants including LHCBA President Tanvir Iqbal Khan, General Secretary Raja Shaukat Satti, Vice President DBA Shahid Hameed Bhatti, and others.
In addition to the rallies, employees of the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) led by Managing Director Mohammad Tanveer organized a walk on Murree Road to express their protest against the incident. Rawalpindi Arts Council also organized a protest rally from Murree Road to Arts Council, where participants demanded severe punishment for the culprit. Director of Arts Council Waqar Ahmed highlighted that Islam is a universal religion, and any act of desecration or disrespect towards the Holy Quran goes against the principles of tolerance, mutual respect, and decency. Assistant Director Mohammad Suleman emphasized the need for the United Nations to take action against discrimination and Islamophobia.
Holy Quran
Meanwhile, the PML-N chapters in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, led by Hanif Abbasi and local leaders, held separate rallies, which later joined together at Faizabad to protest the burning of the Holy Quran in Sweden. Traders in Sitara Market also organized a rally and burned the Swedish flag, urging the government to raise the issue at the UN level. Malik Aamir Fida Paracha, the spokesman for PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari, stated that PPP Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has consistently raised his voice against Islamophobia on various platforms, including the General Assembly of the United Nations. He called for unity among Muslim countries to counteract the actions of those involved in such acts of sacrilege.