Governments don’t demonstrate but act
Friday, September 21, 2012 - THE Federal Cabinet, in its own judgement, decided to officially observe the “Love for Prophet (PBUH) Day” today (Friday) to convey sentiments of the Pakistani people to the international community over dastardly act of production and distribution of blasphemous Internet film in the US. It also thought it appropriate to declare a public holiday on the occasion so as to affording opportunity to all to take part in protest demonstrations.
It is quite obvious that the West, led by the US, is deliberately provoking sentiments of the Muslim world and the latest incident of publication of a highly inflammable cartoon by a French magazine is testimony to that fact. While the Islamic Ummah is exhorting the need for inter-faith dialogue and harmony, the Western world is pursuing the path of clash of civilizations, and as a consequence there can’t be durable peace and security in the globe. There is, therefore, definitely need to counter these nefarious designs through collective will of the Muslim Ummah and the saner elements of the international community. Muslims have a definite cause to defend and that is why protest demonstrations are held not only in Pakistan but elsewhere in the Islamic world as well. Demonstrations by people whose sentiments have been injured are understandable but decision of the Government to give them official patronage is questionable, as the executive has so many courses and options to take up the issue in right earnest with the forces that be and take measures to safeguard interests of the Muslims. Apart from raising the issue bilaterally with the US, the decision to highlight it at the forum of the UN General Assembly is welcome and similarly, efforts should be made to channelize strength of the Ummah through OIC and coordinated diplomatic moves by the OIC member states. If the Federal Government ridiculed the Punjab Government for joining rallies against load-shedding then the how can it justify its own decision to join protest demonstrations now. At best, it seems to be a move to pacify sentiments of the people and to gain political mileage out of a religion-related issue and situation. Prudence demands that the Govt should come out with a solid plan of action to counter such moves as we believe Governments act and don’t demonstrate.
It is quite obvious that the West, led by the US, is deliberately provoking sentiments of the Muslim world and the latest incident of publication of a highly inflammable cartoon by a French magazine is testimony to that fact. While the Islamic Ummah is exhorting the need for inter-faith dialogue and harmony, the Western world is pursuing the path of clash of civilizations, and as a consequence there can’t be durable peace and security in the globe. There is, therefore, definitely need to counter these nefarious designs through collective will of the Muslim Ummah and the saner elements of the international community. Muslims have a definite cause to defend and that is why protest demonstrations are held not only in Pakistan but elsewhere in the Islamic world as well. Demonstrations by people whose sentiments have been injured are understandable but decision of the Government to give them official patronage is questionable, as the executive has so many courses and options to take up the issue in right earnest with the forces that be and take measures to safeguard interests of the Muslims. Apart from raising the issue bilaterally with the US, the decision to highlight it at the forum of the UN General Assembly is welcome and similarly, efforts should be made to channelize strength of the Ummah through OIC and coordinated diplomatic moves by the OIC member states. If the Federal Government ridiculed the Punjab Government for joining rallies against load-shedding then the how can it justify its own decision to join protest demonstrations now. At best, it seems to be a move to pacify sentiments of the people and to gain political mileage out of a religion-related issue and situation. Prudence demands that the Govt should come out with a solid plan of action to counter such moves as we believe Governments act and don’t demonstrate.
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