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A woman at an anti-film protest rally in Islamabad on Saturday. (AFP)
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Islamabad, Sept. 22 (PTI): A Pakistani government minister has offered a $100,000 reward for the death of the maker of an anti-Islam film produced in the US.
Railways minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour told reporters that he would pay the reward for the “sacred duty” out of his own pocket. He said the reward would be given to the person who kills the filmmaker. He said there was no other way to protest than to murder the filmmaker.
He also called on members of the Taliban and al Qaida for their support, saying members of these organisations too will be rewarded if they kill the filmmaker.
Bilour’s announcement, made during a news conference in the northwestern city of Peshawar, caused concern as he belongs to the secular Awami National Party that rules Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province and is part of the ruling coalition at the centre.
Leaders were shocked by Bilour’s remarks as the Taliban has killed scores of ANP workers and leaders. His remarks came a day after violent protests across Pakistan resulted in 23 deaths and destruction of property worth billions of rupees.
Surprisingly, Bilour acknowledged that he was committing a crime by instigating people to murder but said he was prepared to be a criminal for this cause. “If there is a case lodged against me in an international court or in this country’s courts, I will ask people to hand me over to (foreign countries)... I want to show these countries that we will not tolerate such things,” he was quoted as saying by the Pakistani media.
At least 30 people have died so far in unrest connected to the film in over 20 countries. More than 20 have been killed in violent protests in Pakistan.
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