PM condemns bounty on anti-Islam filmmaker

 Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has strongly condemned its cabinet member’s act of placing a $100,000 bounty on the head of the maker of an anti-Islam film that has sparked a wave of violence and anger, as Muslims mounted fresh protests worldwide.

“The government has ‘absolutely’ no link with the statement of Federal Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmed Bilour,” BBC Urdu quoted Shafqat Jalil, the spokesman to the PM house, as saying.

“I announce today that this blasphemer who has abused the holy prophet, if somebody will kill him, I will give that person a prize of $100,000,” Bilour spoke to reporters on Saturday in the northwestern city of Peshawar, a day after violent nationwide demonstrations against the “Innocence of Muslims” film left 21 people dead and more than 200 injured.

Jalil said that the PM would discuss the matter with the chairman of the Awami National Party (ANP) as Bilour was a leader of the party. “No action can be ruled out against the minister, however, presently he will continue to work on his post.”

The railways minister also called on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda to join the hunt and help accomplish the “noble deed”.

The ANP Spokesman Senator Zahid Khan has also termed Bilour’s statement as his personal act and said that it was not party’s policy. 

Source: http://wwthenewstribe.com

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Anti-Islam filmmaker abused freedom of expression: UN chief

Geneva: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday condemned the maker of anti-Islam film, Innocence of Muslims, and said that the producer abused his right to freedom of expression by making the movie, which he called a “disgraceful and shameful act.”
 

The low budget movie sparked violence in the Muslim world with millions of people attacking US embassies and the consulates. The worst incident occurred in Libya where armed protestors killed US ambassador to Libya including three other diplomats.

Addressing a news conference , the U.N. chief said: “Freedoms of expression should be and must be guaranteed and protected, when they are used for common justice, common purpose.”

“When some people use this freedom of expression to provoke or humiliate some others’ values and beliefs, then this cannot be protected in such a way.”

“My position is that freedom of expression, while it is a fundamental right and privilege, should not be abused by such people, by such a disgraceful and shameful act,” he said. - Reuters

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