Pakistan has requested for an urgent meeting of the permanent members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to formulate a joint strategy regarding the blasphemous cartoons competition in the Netherlands.
Winding up the discussion in the Senate on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that he has written letters to his counterparts of six OIC countries and the secretary-general of the Organization to convene an urgent session of the permanent representatives of OIC to adopt a unified stance regarding the blasphemous contents against holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
The foreign minister said that he will also take up the matter with the Council of OIC Foreign Ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York next month. He said that the purpose is to adopt a unified approach on the matter, adding that the issue of blasphemous contents has also been raised with the Secretary General United Nations and the UN Human Rights Commission.
"We also plan to raise the matter with the European Union as the matter may affect its own peace and security," he said, adding that millions of Muslims are residing in the EU countries and such acts could lead to religious extremism and intolerance.
He said that he is expecting a telephonic call from Dutch foreign minister in which he will clearly express the sentiments of the nation on the blasphemous cartoon competition being conducted by a Dutch politician. He said this is the matter of humanity and "we should not allow the humanity to get divided." He said the act of a Dutch politician has hurt the sentiments of not only Pakistani nation but the entire Muslim Ummah.
He said no words are sufficient to condemn the detestable act, adding that the flag bearers of freedom of expression should show similar sensitivity and concern to the act, the way they showed on the matter of the Holocaust and the Black people of the US.
Responding to the concerns of the senators, he said that he would also be taking up the issues of Rohingya Muslims and Kashmir on international platforms in New York. On FATF, he regretted that the previous government did not show any seriousness to convince the world powers on the steps taken by the government. However, he said that the caretaker Finance Minister Shahmshad Akhtar had done a remarkable work on checking the terror financing.
"It is in our own interest to check the terror financing with a view to root out the menace of terrorism," he added. Earlier, the senators held discussion regarding the continuous display of abusive and blasphemous material against Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad [PBUH] on the internet and the proposed competition of the blasphemous cartoons in the Netherlands.
Leader of the House Shibli Faraz suggested that a committee should be constituted to discuss the way forward as to how the matter could effectively be raised at the international forums. The members pointed out that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) should take concrete steps to block such websites that are attacking the personality of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
They said, "Being Muslims it is our collective responsibility to ensure the sanctity of the Holy Prophet." They said that the FIA must locate the persons involved in uploading profane contents on the internet. Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif pointed out that there are certain websites and social media pages portraying sacrilegious contents and urged the government to start a crackdown on these elements.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed said Pakistan is facing a cultural invasion and encircled by enemies of Islam. He said Islam is present from one corner of the world to another corner, adding the eminence of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) could not be lessened by certain elements in the west. He said freedom of social media should be curtailed as it is enjoying unbridled freedom and people on it are making fun of Islam and Islamic personalities.
Senator Khushbakht Shujaat agreed that the government should act on the matter and also take up the issue at international forums. Senator Azam Swati said it is an issue related to the whole humanity and disrespect hurts the sentiments of Muslims.
Senator A Rehman Malik condemned the making of caricatures against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He said action should be initiated against those propagating anti-Islam and anti-Pakistan views. He said the government should buy equipment worth $ 25 million for PTA to block blasphemous material and anti-Islam views.
Senator Moulvi Faiz Mohammad said Muslims would not tolerate insult of prophets recognized by Islam. He said Muslims should boycott the products of those committing blasphemy as a mark of protest. Senator Usman Kakar said his party condemns blasphemy in the strongest possible words and action should be taken against the perpetrators.
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