Pakistan has asked the OIC secretary general to convene an urgent meeting of the permanent representatives of the organisation to adopt a unified stance on the blasphemous content.
While winding up discussion on the blasphemous material, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi informed Senate Tuesday that he has made the request through a letter to the OIC secretary general. He said that he has also written six letters to the OIC foreign ministers on this sensitive issue, apprising them of the sentiments of the Pakistani nation on the matter. He said that he will also take up the matter with the Council of OIC Foreign Ministers during his visit to the United States next month. He said the issue of blasphemous content has also been raised with United Nations secretary general and the UN Human Rights Commission. “We also plan to raise the matter with the European Union,” he added. The foreign minister said that he is expecting a telephonic call from the Dutch foreign minister.
“I will clearly express the sentiments of the Pakistani nation on the blasphemous cartoons competition being conducted by a Dutch politician. This is the matter of humanity and we should not allow the humanity to get divided,” he said, adding that the act of a Dutch politician has hurt the sentiments of not only Pakistani nation but the entire Muslim Ummah.
Earlier, the House held a discussion regarding the continuous display of abusive and blasphemous material against Holy Prophet [PBUH] on the internet. Leader of the House Shibli Faraz suggested that a committee be constituted to devise a strategy to effectively raise the issue at the international forums. Other members were of the view that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority should take concrete steps to block websites that are attacking the personality of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
The House will now meet again today at 11 in the morning.
Published in Daily Times, August 29th 2018.
