KARACHI: Religious scholars have resented the French President's anti-Islam invective, asking their government to cut diplomatic ties with Paris, calling for a boycott to the French products.
Millions of faithfuls rejected Emmanuel Macron's polemic against Islam during the procession on MA Jinnah Road to mark Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) on Friday.
Dozens of other smaller processions were also organized in the metropolis to celebrate, what they called, the birth day of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The participants waved green flags while marching to nearby located mosques in their respective areas of the city.
Trucks, motorcars, bikes and other different vehicles were decorated with green flags and buntings while the devotees pinned badges to their shirts, and wore green traditional caps and religious turbans.
Public and private buildings, streets in every locality and houses were illumined with lights, big and small flags, and buntings, giving celebrative atmosphere.
On this occasion, film, drama, sports celebrates and politicians, besides religious scholars wished the nation a blissful Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) through social media platforms and Friday sermons.
It was the official holiday across the province with businesses, trade, government office, newspapers, school, colleges and universities closed.
The biggest congregation was held at Nishtar Park, Nomaish Chowrangi where the main Friday prayers were performed by thousands of people. Besides, small functions and conferences were also held elsewhere in the city.
Sermons by religious scholars highlighted the very threats to this country and Islam, mainly from western nations. They termed the cartoons in French newspaper as an 'evil act'.
Scholars denounced blasphemy and insults to their religion and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) under the pretext of free speech, asking the government to call back its envoy from Paris as a protest.
"Blasphemy sketches under the patronage of French government poses a serious threat to the world peace," Chief of Ahle Sunnat-wal-Jamaat, Syed Allama Shah Abdul Haq Qadri told the main congregation at Nishtar Park.
He said that France as a state has become a war criminal by supporting and encouraging the blasphemous sketches.
He asked the government to expel French ambassador from Islamabad to record a protest from people of Pakistan. He also condemned Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020