Pakistan is observing the Sanctity of the Holy Quran Day on Friday and religious and political parties, especially the ruling Pakistan Mulsim League Nawaz, held rallies after Friday prayers across the country.

The Youm-e-Taqadus-e-Quran or Sanctity of the Quran Day was announced by the government in response to a vile act involving the desecration of the Muslim holy book in Sweden with the permission of a local court. The Swedish government has condemned the incident, however, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on the floor of the Parliament on Thursday that condemnation was not enough and that Stockholm needed to take serious action.

The Parliament passed a unanimous resolution against the vile act in a joint session.

“This house believes in respecting all religions, beliefs and their Holy Books,” it stated.

Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, Sunni Ulema Council, and other religious groups have announced they will hold rallies after Friday prayers.

On July 28, a man desecrated a copy of the Holy Quran outside Stockholm’s central mosque after the country’s court and police authorities gave him such permission.

It was widely condemned by the world and protests were organized in many Muslim countries, demanding the West to discourage Islamophobia.

Bilawal says incident ‘blatant provocation’

“The desecration of the Quran in Sweden is another example of the rising Islamophobic mindset that seeks to dehumanise and denigrate our faith,” Bilawal wrote on Twitter

He added that it was ‘blatant provocation’ to inflame Muslim sentiments. He added that Pakistan will raise the issue at the UNHRC urgent debate in Geneva on July 11.

Conference organised in Badshahi Mosque

A tahaffuz-e-Quran conference was organised in Lahore’ Badshahi mosque by the Majlis-e-Ulema Pakistan.

Christian community protests in Gujranwala

A rally for the Youm-e-Taqadus-e-Quran was organised in Gujranwala by the city’s Christian community.

Participants of the rally raised placards asking the UN to legislate for the protection of the sanctity of all religions.

Labour protests in Quetta and Rawalpindi

In Rawalpindi, workers from the Railway carriage factory also took out a rally to condemn the desecration of the Holy Quran.

Protests in courts and bar associations

A protest was organised by Islamabad’s lawyers in Islamabad outside the Supreme Court. Lawyers took out a rally holding copies of the Holy Quran.

Members of Rawalpindi’s bar protested at Kachehri Chowk and demanded the expulsion of the Swedish ambassador from Pakistan.

Karachi bar also boycotted court proceedings for the day in protest.

Bar associations in Sahiwal and Chichawatni also observed a strike and boycotted court proceedings in their cities.

Hyderabad’s lawyers also protested and boycotted court proceedings.