A protest rally was staged in front of Peshawar Press Club, which was led by President of the Khyber Union of Journalists Nasir Hussain, Senior Vice President Imran Ayaz and General Secretary Imran Yousafzai. The protesters holding banners and placards chanted full-throated slogans against the Swedish government.
Nasir Hussain strongly condemned the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden and demanded of the Swedish authorities to arrest the culprit immediately. He said that desecration of holy books is not freedom of expression, and it represents an extreme level of hatred against religion.
He said that Muslims respect all religions and all divine books and expect the same attitude from others. He said that some people want to create disorder and anarchy in Muslim countries by such acts. In his view, it is the responsibility of the Pakistani Prime Minister to expel the Swedish ambassador from the country and take tangible steps at the OIC level to stop such activities in Europe.
Hussain warned that if the government does not take steps in this regard, then the entire responsibility would lie on the government for any agitation that followed. Moreover, he emphasised his perspective that the Holy Book and the Prophet (PBUH) represent “a red line for the Muslim Ummah.”
Senior Vice President Imran Ayaz also addressed the protesters and denounced what he described as “the cowardly act of Sweden citizens.” He said that the Swedish government is not taking any action against the person, and it is the urgent responsibility of the OIC and Arab League to take this issue to the UN level.
General Secretary Imran Yousafzai also criticised the government for not taking up the matter with the Swedish ambassador and demanded of the prime minister to take serious steps in this regard.