Pakistani Islamists rally against anti-Islam cartoon contest, govt seeks UN's attention

Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders, known for his fierce criticism of Islam , plans to hold a Prophet Muhammad cartoon competition in November. He has been sharply criticised by Pakistan.

Supporters of an Islamic seminary 'Jamia Naeemia' take part in a demonstration in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018, condemning a cartoon contest planned by Geert Wilders, a Dutch parliamentarian. Members of a Pakistani Islamist group that made surprising gains in last month's national elections rallied against Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders, who plans to hold a Prophet Muhammad cartoon competition in November. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

New Delhi: Protesting against the Prophet Muhammad cartoon competition called by a Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders, members of a Pakistani Islamist group that made surprising gains in last month's national elections are preparing to march toward Islamabad. Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders, known for his fierce criticism of Islam , plans to hold a Prophet Muhammad cartoon competition in November. He has been sharply criticised by Pakistan. The Pakistani Muslims have denounced the contest, dubbing it as an attempt to defile Islam as it requires physical depiction of God , which is forbidden in the religion. Pakistan had also summoned the Dutch ambassador earlier this month. The Dutch government however, has distanced itself from the event. As per reports, today Paksitan’s new prime minister will be interacting with the Tehreek-i-Libaik Pakistan party, which has reportedly supported Imran Khan in elections. As per reports by AP, the party had once led to a huge rally disrupting life in Islamabad against an omitted reference to the Prophet in a constitutional Bill. Pakistan Prime Minister Khan on Tuesday said that the absence of an international policy against the generation of blasphemous content is a "collective failure" on part of the Muslim countries. The Senate had passed a resolution to bring the UN's attention to the matter regarding the announcement by the leader of Dutch Freedom Party and Parliamentarian Geert Wilders to hold a competition of blasphemous caricatures.