ISLAMABAD: Leaders of Islamist political factions in Pakistan on Friday rallied against a French magazine, Charlie Hebdo, for republishing sacrilegious images of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and demanded immediate expulsion of the French ambassador from the country.
The protest demonstrations were organized in various cities by groups like Tehreek-e-Labbaik, Sunni Tehreek and Majlis-e-Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen.
The participants of the rally said they would not tolerate “blasphemous acts” against their religion, adding that the publication of controversial sketches was yet another manifestation of Islamophobia in the guise of free speech and expression.
Charlie Hebdo, a satirical weekly publication, was attacked by Islamist gunmen in 2015 after it published anti-Islam images that offended a large number of Muslims and led to widespread protests.
The publication printed the same material again as a court began to try some people who allegedly facilitated the attack.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday denounced the magazine’s decision to republish the sketches, pointing out in a video message that such caricatures hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the world.
Meanwhile, the magazine’s management announced on Friday that its latest edition had sold out in just one day, and a new batch of 200,000 copies would hit newstands on Saturday.
Protesters in Pakistan demand expulsion of French ambassador as Charlie Hebdo sells out latest edition
https://arab.news/ce6pk
Protesters in Pakistan demand expulsion of French ambassador as Charlie Hebdo sells out latest edition
- The French satirical magazine republished anti-Islam images that resulted in an attack on its office in 2015
- Pakistan has already denounced Charlie Hebdo’s decision to republish material that hurt ‘the sentiments of millions of Muslims’
Pakistan signals commitment to regulate digital assets in meeting with Binance leadership
- Binance delegation led by CEO Richard Teng meets Pakistan’s prime minister, army chief in Islamabad
- Pakistan has attempted to tap into growing crypto market to curb illicit transactions, improve oversight
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government has signaled its “strong commitment” to digital asset regulation as the country’s senior officials met the leadership of Binance, one of the world’s most prominent global cryptocurrency exchanges, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on Saturday.
The Binance team, led by its Chief Executive Officer Richard Teng, is in Pakistan and has held meetings with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Chairman Bilal bin Saqib and senior Pakistani bank officials this week.
Pakistan has been attempting to regulate its fast-growing crypto and digital assets market by bringing virtual asset service providers (VASPs) under a formal licensing regime. Officials say the push is aimed at curbing illicit transactions, improving oversight and encouraging innovation in blockchain-based financial services.
“Binance senior leadership visits Pakistan as government signals strong commitment to digital asset regulation,” the PMO said.
A Binance delegation led by Teng met Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in Islamabad.
Saqib also attended the meeting and gave the Binance team a briefing about his organization.
Pakistan has attempted in recent months to tap into the country’s growing crypto market, a move analysts say could bring an estimated $25 billion in virtual assets into the tax net.
In September, Islamabad invited international crypto exchanges and other VASPs to apply for licenses to operate in the country, a step aimed at formalizing and regulating its fast-growing digital market.
