Pakistan Min. Announces $100,000 Bounty For Killing Anti-Islam Film Producer

Islamabad, Sept 24, IRNA -- A Pakistani cabinet Minister on Saturday announced a reward of 100,000 US dollars for anyone who kills the maker of the anti-Islam film made in the United States. The blasphemous film 'Innocence of Muslims' has triggered violent protest in Pakistan and over 20 people were killed and nearly 200 were injured in clashes with police on Friday. Pakistan’s Railways Minister, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, announced that he will award $100,000 to the person who kills the maker of the blasphemous film. 'I request all the rich people to bring out all their money so that the killer can be loaded with dollars and gold,' the minister told a news conference in the city of Peshawar. Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was the center of worst violent demonstrations against the anti-Islam movie on Friday. Several people were killed and the demonstrators burnt two cinema houses and also damaged vehicles and shops. 'There is no other way to lodge a protest and instill fear among the blasphemers other than murder of the filmmaker,' Bilor, who belongs to the ethnic Pashtoon group Awami National Party (ANP). The ANP rules the Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and is partner in the ruling coalition in the center with Pakistan Peoples Party. The minister said he knows that his reward for killing a man is amounting to commit a crime by instigating people for murder, but said he is ready to be a criminal for this cause. 'If there is a case lodged against me in the international court or in this country's court, I will ask people to hand me over to them… I want to show these countries that we will not tolerate any such things.' He added that if he is punished, the country should not end ties with the US as this was a matter between him and his Prophet. He condemned burning of Church by protestors in the city of Mardan in the northwest on Friday during a violent rally and expressed grief over the incident. Bilour said that all minorities whether they are Christians, or Hindus, are citizens of Pakistan and they have all rights to worship. This is the first time a minister has announced reward for the producer of the anti-Islam film. Earlier several personalities and groups have announced rewards for the murder of the film producers./end