Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Amid deadly demonstrations in Pakistan, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf urged the international community on Friday to pass laws to prevent people from insulting the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H), SAMAA reported.

"If denying the Holocaust is a crime, then is it not fair and legitimate for a Muslim to demand that denigrating and demeaning Islam's holiest personality is no less than a crime?" Ashraf said in a speech to religious scholars and international diplomats in Islamabad on the occasion of Yaum-e-Ishq-e-Rasool (S.A.W).

“Let me make it absolutely clear: this is not about freedom of expression, this is more about hatred, and it also demonstrates blatant double-standards,” he said.

The government had declared Friday a "day of love for the prophet”, and announced holiday, temporarily blocked cellphone service in 15 major cities to prevent militants from using phones to detonate bombs during the protests. -- SAMAA