Muslim Community Protests in Phagwara Over Alleged Offensive Social Media Post, Demands Legal Action

Ashok Kaura

Jul 4, 2026 - 02:34

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PHAGWARA: Members of the Muslim community staged a protest in Phagwara on Friday against an alleged social media post by Nazia Elahi, claiming that it contained derogatory remarks about the Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad. The protesters expressed anger over what they described as an act that had hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community.

The demonstration, led by Sarwar Ghulam Saba, State President of the National Minority Action Front, witnessed participants raising slogans, burning an effigy of Nazia Elahi and demanding immediate legal action. Following the protest, a delegation submitted a memorandum to the Station House Officer (SHO) of City Police Station, Phagwara, addressed to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kapurthala.

In the memorandum, the protesters urged the police to register a criminal case against Nazia Elahi and initiate appropriate legal proceedings under the relevant provisions of law. They alleged that the social media post had deeply offended the religious sentiments of Muslims and had the potential to disturb communal harmony and public peace.

Addressing the gathering, Sarwar Ghulam Saba alleged that the remarks attributed to Nazia Elahi were highly objectionable and unacceptable to the Muslim community. He claimed that such statements could create social unrest and appealed to the authorities to take prompt action to maintain communal harmony and uphold the rule of law. He also urged people from all communities to maintain peace and refrain from actions that could incite religious tensions.

The protesters warned that if no action was taken by the authorities, they would intensify their democratic protest in accordance with the law. They maintained that their demand was for a fair investigation and appropriate legal action while ensuring that peace and public order were preserved.

Among those present during the protest were Qari Gayoor Ahmad, Maulvi Zia-ul-Haq of Umar Masjid, Maulana Naseem Qasmi, Aslam Shahadat, Danish Qureshi, Murshid, Mohammad Rafiq, Lavish Qureshi, Qari Aleem, Ejaz Salmani, Alauddin, Shahnawaz, Qari Shaukeen, Hakim Mehtab, Mohammad Abid, Imam Aftab Alam, Ishrafeel Kotrana, Mohammad Nahid Raza, Imam Mohammad Imtiaz Thekedar, Bhola, Feroz Khan, Bablu Khan, Shoaib Qureshi and several other members of the Muslim community.

The memorandum was received by the City Police Station authorities for onward submission to the SSP, Kapurthala. The protest concluded peacefully under police supervision.