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| Pakistan disowns minister's bounty on anti-Islam film-maker | Pakistan disowns minister's bounty on anti-Islam film-maker |
| (7 months later) | |
| The Pakistani government has distanced itself from an offer by one of its cabinet ministers to pay $100,000 (£60,000) for anyone who kills the maker of a film that mocks Islam, saying the offer does not represent official government policy. | The Pakistani government has distanced itself from an offer by one of its cabinet ministers to pay $100,000 (£60,000) for anyone who kills the maker of a film that mocks Islam, saying the offer does not represent official government policy. |
| The offer by the railways minister, Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, has drawn criticism in Pakistan despite anger against the film running high in this predominantly Muslim country. | The offer by the railways minister, Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, has drawn criticism in Pakistan despite anger against the film running high in this predominantly Muslim country. |
| Bilour said on Saturday he would pay the reward out of his own pocket. He also appealed to al-Qaida and Taliban militants to contribute to "a noble cause" of eliminating the film-maker. | Bilour said on Saturday he would pay the reward out of his own pocket. He also appealed to al-Qaida and Taliban militants to contribute to "a noble cause" of eliminating the film-maker. |
| The film, made in the US and entitled Innocence of Muslims, has enraged Muslims around the world for its portrayal of the prophet Muhammad as a fraud, a womaniser and a child molester. At least 51 people, including the US ambassador to Libya, have been killed in violence linked to protests over the film, which has also renewed debate over freedom of expression in the US and Europe. | The film, made in the US and entitled Innocence of Muslims, has enraged Muslims around the world for its portrayal of the prophet Muhammad as a fraud, a womaniser and a child molester. At least 51 people, including the US ambassador to Libya, have been killed in violence linked to protests over the film, which has also renewed debate over freedom of expression in the US and Europe. |
| In Islamabad, the Foreign Office said in a statement that the bounty reflected Bilour's personal view and was not Pakistan's official policy. | In Islamabad, the Foreign Office said in a statement that the bounty reflected Bilour's personal view and was not Pakistan's official policy. |
| The minister belongs to the secular Awami National party, an ally in the government of President Asif Ali Zardari. His comments appealing to al-Qaida and the Taliban struck a nerve within the party, which is considered anti-Taliban and has lost several leaders in the fight against the insurgency. | The minister belongs to the secular Awami National party, an ally in the government of President Asif Ali Zardari. His comments appealing to al-Qaida and the Taliban struck a nerve within the party, which is considered anti-Taliban and has lost several leaders in the fight against the insurgency. |
| His colleague in parliament, Bushra Gohar, demanded that the party force Bilour to explain himself. A party spokesman, Haji Adeel, said the statement was Bilour's personal view, and that the party had sought an explanation from him. | His colleague in parliament, Bushra Gohar, demanded that the party force Bilour to explain himself. A party spokesman, Haji Adeel, said the statement was Bilour's personal view, and that the party had sought an explanation from him. |
| "We are a secular party," he said. "We consider al-Qaida and Taliban our enemy." | "We are a secular party," he said. "We consider al-Qaida and Taliban our enemy." |
| Pakistan observed a national holiday on Friday which it termed the Day of Love for the Prophet, and called on people to go out on the streets to protest against the anti-Islam film peacefully. But the protests turned violent, and at least 21 people were killed. | Pakistan observed a national holiday on Friday which it termed the Day of Love for the Prophet, and called on people to go out on the streets to protest against the anti-Islam film peacefully. But the protests turned violent, and at least 21 people were killed. |
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