No compromise on blasphemy laws: PM Imran
No compromise on blasphemy laws: PM Imran
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Prime Minister Imran Khan while chairing an important meeting to review European Parliament resolution against Pakistan’s GSP plus status said that no compromise would be made on blasphemy laws.
The meeting decided to remove the concerns of the European Union and also discussed the points raised in the EU resolution.
It was stated in the meeting that the agreement on Pakistan’s GSP Plus status had nothing to do with blasphemy laws.
According to sources, in his address to the gathering, the prime minister took a clear and unequivocal stand saying that no compromise would be made on the blasphemy laws.
The meeting also decided to bring laws on enforced disappearances, protection of journalists and freedom of expression in the Parliament.
The meeting also decided to ensure the protection of the minorities’ rights in Pakistan.
The prime minister also met Islamabad-based ambassadors of the member countries of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss combating Islamophobia and promoting inter-faith harmony.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan’s initiatives at the international level about awareness over Islamophobia were aimed at building mutual understanding and promoting inter-faith harmony.
He underscored the imperative of Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) collective efforts to project the true image of Islam and its message of peace and tolerance.
Recalling the two letters addressed by him to the leaders of the Islamic world last year, the prime minister briefed the envoys on Pakistan’s efforts at the international level to create awareness about Islamophobia and the need to collectively address the phenomenon.
Noting that Islamophobic acts fanned inter-religious hatred and disharmony among civilizations, he called for addressing the underlying reasons for the rise in such incidents worldwide.
“Falsely equating Islam with radicalism and terrorism was leading to the marginalization and stigmatization of Muslims,” PM Office media wing said in a press release.
The prime minister emphasized that the vilification of Islamic precepts and religious personalities, wrongly justified under the garb of the right to freedom of expression or opinion, hurt the sentiments of 1.5 billion Muslims around the world.
The prime minister urged the OIC to work together for making the international community understand the deep-rooted love and reverence of all Muslims for the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and the Holy Quran.
He also underlined the need for instituting legal safeguards aimed at protecting the sensitivities of all religious groups.
The prime minister also reaffirmed that Pakistan remained committed to dialogue and cooperation with all members of the international community for promoting universal values of tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful co-existence among all nations and peoples.
