Radical Pak cleric Hussain Rizvi, who brought Islamabad to its knees, dies of fever
Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan chief Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi, who recently led anti-blasphemy and anti-France protests in Islamabad, has passed away. The 54-year-old radical Islamic cleric was highly regarded across Pakistan, especially the Punjab province.
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FollowTehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan chief Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi, who recently led anti-blasphemy and anti-France protests in Islamabad, has passed away.
The cause of Rizvi's demise wasn't immediately clear.
The party's spokesperson said that Rizvi had been experiencing difficulty in breathing and was running a fever since Wednesday.
The 54-year-old radical Islamic cleric was highly regarded across Pakistan, especially the Punjab province.
Rizvi's TLP had last week marched from Rawalpindi Press Club till Faizabad in Islamabad against the publication of caricatures by the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. It also called for a boycott of French products.
Rizvi had called for the expulsion of the French ambassador after French President Emmanuel Macron defended the right to criticise Islam as part of freedom of speech.
During a speech in Karachi last week, Rizvi had said: "We are not emotional or fanatics. People who bombed Syria and hanged Saddam Hussein on Eid are fanatics. We are only talking about the honour of our Prophet. Whenever you talk about Islam your tongues slip. People need to keep control over their tongues."
Rizvi's TLP saw itself as the custodian of Pakistan's infamous blasphemy laws. In fact, the outfit has called for the death penalty for anyone proposing amendments to these laws.
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