'Government takes notice of 'Washington Times' cartoon and Quran desecration issues'

Federal Minister for Parliamentary affairs, Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi said on Wednesday that government of Pakistan has taken serious notice of the issues of cartoon in 'Washington Times' and desecration of Holy Quran by American soldiers at Guantanamo Bay. Speaking at a PTV programme he said the issues are being debated in the National Assembly and both the opposition and treasury benches have condemned these incidents unanimously. He said the issue of 'Washington Times' cartoon is Pakistan specific and it has hurt the entire Pakistani nation.
Desecration of Holy Quran is however, an insult to entire humanity he said adding the Holy Quran bear guidance not only for Muslims but for all the human beings.
He said it is included in the faith of Muslims to respect the Prophets and sacred books of other religions.
The people who committed such a heinous act would ultimately repent because they would find no supporter in the entire world.
By doing so they have desecrated their own faith and the faith of entire humanity, he added.
He said the government of Pakistan has shown no hesitation in reacting against this inhuman act hoping the other Muslim countries will also take serious notice of the issue.
He hoped the US government will also take action against the incident of desecration of Holy Quran and such thing will not happen in future again.
To a question he said, President General Pervez Musharraf has made it clear at all the forums including the United Nations (UN) that Islam as a religion has no links whatsoever with terrorism.
President Musharraf has time and again pointed out that those who are trying to confuse terrorism with Islam should be discouraged for the sake of global peace, he added.
Dr Niazi said that credit of establishing first-ever welfare state goes to Muslims wherein the rights of all individuals were protected without any discrimination.