Lahore (August 31, 2018): Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) has called off its protest rally after Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders announced to cancel the planned blasphemous caricature competition.
“Tehreek-e-Labaik announces to end its protest,” announced party leader Pir Afzal Qadri.
Earlier, in a written statement issued on Thursday night, Wilders said he has decided “not to let the cartoon contest go ahead.”
The rally, led by Peer Muhammad Afzal Qadri and Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi, had set out for Islamabad from Lahore a day earlier. It reached Rawalpindi late Thursday.
Click Play Button To Watch This Video:
A government delegation held talks with TLP leaders, after which Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the TLP recorded its protest over blasphemous caricatures.
Speaking to media, he noted the National Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution in this regard, while he also explained the emotions of Pakistani people to his Dutch counterpart.
Qureshi said Pakistan’s ambassador to Holland has confirmed cancellation of the controversial contest.
Click Play Button To Watch This Video:
He said that such contests promote extremism and his government would raise the matter in the United Nations, requesting the TLP protesters to disperse peacefully.
Shortly after Qureshi’s press talk, the TLP announced to call off the rally.
The party had been demanding that the government expel the Netherlands’ ambassador to Pakistan from the country, as well as calls back Pakistan’s ambassador to Netherlands in protest against the competition.
Click Play Button To Watch This Video:
The announcement regarding the cancellation of the contest comes shortly after Prime Minister Imran Khan issued a statement saying the act was hurting the sentiments of Muslims living all around the world.
PM Khan urged all Muslim countries to use the platform of United Nations to convey to the western world how Muslims feel when their religious sentiments are repeatedly hurt by disrespecting the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
ہالینڈ میں گستاخانہ خاکوں کے مقابلے کی منسوخی پاکستان کی حکومت اور عوام کی بڑی کامیابی ہے ، آج وزیر اعظم کا پیغام اور ان کی ہدائیت پر وزارت خارجہ کے روابط اس کامیابی کا باعث بنے، عشق رسول سلامت رہے پاکستان زندہ باد۔
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) August 30, 2018
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry termed it a victory of the Pakistani nation, saying it was made possible by diplomatic efforts on the directives of PM Khan.
Related News:
Sacrilege Sketches: PM Urges Muslims to Lodge Strong Protest
