Britain bans entry of Ghulam Ahmad Bilour

LONDON: British government has decided to ban the entry into Britain of Pakistan’s Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, maker of the blasphemous film ‘Innocence of Muslims’ that caused riots across the Muslim world.

The News/Geo TV can exclusively disclose that the decisions was taken at a high level meeting in which the Home Secretary Theresa May agreed to issue exclusion orders for both Bilour, who had offered a $200,000 bounty for the killing of the maker of the anti-Islam film, and Nakoula on the grounds that their presence in the UK will not be “conducive to the public good”. Both of them have been declared “undesirable” as their presence in Britain could harm race relations and pose threats to Britain’s national interests.

When approached for confirmation, a Home Office spokesperson refused to comment on the “individual cases” but the trusted government source told this correspondent that the decision has been conveyed to Pakistan’s Railways Minister.

The Home Secretary may decide to exclude an individual who is not a British citizen if she considers that their presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good. The source told that the Home Secretary had used her powers on full justification, based on all available evidence and the decision is “reasonable and proportionate”.

The government of Pakistan and Bilour’s Awami National Party (ANP) quickly distanced themselves from Bilour’s comments and said his comments didn’t reflect the government policy. ANP, which has government in the Taliban-led insurgency infested Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province besides being a strong ally of President Asif Ali Zardari led government in the centre, said at the time: "We are a secular party. We consider al Qaeda and Taliban as our enemy."

A day after dozens of protestors died in Pakistan over the film, Bilour announced: “I announce today that this blasphemer who has abused the Holy Prophet, if somebody will kill him, I will give that person a prize of $100,000. I also announce that if the government hands this person over to me, my heart says I will finish him with my own hands and then they can hang me.”

Soon after Bilour’s comments Pakistani Taliban said they have removed Bilour from their “hit list”. Bilour urged the Taliban and al Qaeda to carry out what he called the “noble deed”. Bilour said public opinion was behind him in Pakistan. “I expressed my personal view and faith. I stand by my declaration. My faith is non-violent, but I cannot forgive and tolerate (this insult).”

Bilour has stated that that freedom of speech should not be used as an excuse to insult Islam – a view now popular amongst Muslims who suspect that the right-wing elements in the west are involved in a sustained campaign to defame Islam.

“Killing is not a good way, but right now it is the only way, because no action has been taken from Western countries (against the filmmaker),” Bilour said.

It is unlikely that Bilour will appeal to the British government to cancel the ban but it is understood that he has the right to appeal.

Theresa May faced calls from her own ruling party parliamentarians to bar Bilour from Britain. Bilour, like other Pakistani politicians, has been a regular visitor to London and ANP has a strong support base in Birmingham where its annual summer event attracts major party figures. Bilour and his brothers Bashir, Ilyas and Aziz are reported to have several properties in London which they jointly own.

Prime Minister David Cameron’s office had indicated that Bilour’s comments could affect his ability to visit the UK.