IHC sends another plea seeking end of diplomatic ties with France to Federal Cabinet
IHC dismissed the plea stating that federation has to address this policy issue.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday has sent another plea seeking end of diplomatic relations with France over blasphemous caricatures matter to the Federal Cabinet.
While conducting hearing on a plea filed by a citizen, IHC judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani said that National Assembly and Senate had approved resolutions against France whereas Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has also written a letter to Muslim countries in this regard.
It’s the responsibility of government to decide which brand should be banned or what behavior should be done with French ambassador, he told.
The judge further dismissed the plea stating that federation has to address this policy issue.
Senate, NA pass unanimous resolutions
The Senate and National Assembly of Pakistan had passed unanimous resolutions, condemning blasphemous caricatures as well as French president Emmanuel Macron’s hateful comments against Islam.
The resolution also condemned discrimination against the hijab by France and called to put an end to rising Islamophobia around the world, particularly Europe. The House also called on the OIC countries to convene an urgent meeting on the matter.
During the National Assembly session, Federal Foreign Minister Shah Muhammad Qureshi presented a resolution against blasphemous sketches propagated in France. The resolution said that Islamophobia is on the rise in Europe and the publication of blasphemous caricatures with impunity is a clear example of it.
Separate resolutions had been tabled by the opposition and the government in the National Assembly on the issue.
In the Senate, the House unanimously passed a resolution condemning blasphemous caricatures in France.
The historic resolution was presented by the Leader of the House Dr. Shahzad Waseem. The text of the resolution stated that when such measures are government-sponsored, divisions are created between different religions.
It further stated that our love for the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is part of our faith. No Muslim will tolerate disrespecting of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Blasphemous caricatures issue
French teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded earlier this month by Abdullakh Anzorov, an 18-year-old Chechen who was born in Moscow but later moved to France with his parents.
Paty had shown his class caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), which had previously been published in the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine.
In the aftermath of Paty’s murder, Macron issued a defence of free speech and France s secular values, vowing that the country "will not give up cartoons".
But the French leader s stance has sparked a backlash in Muslim-majority countries, with people burning pictures of Macron and setting fire to French flags.
