ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Mamnoon Hussain has strongly condemned the blasphemous caricatures published in a French satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo.
“Freedom of expression does not allow anyone to insult the other’s religion,” the president said in a statement issued on Friday.
The President said thatblasphemy of Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) cannot be tolerated. He said that the French magazine has hurt the Muslims of the world, and it must apologize for it.
Meanwhile, the political parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) staged a protest in front of the Punjab assembly in Lahore against blasphemous caricatures.
On the other hand, the protests were held across the country on Friday against publication of blasphemous caricatures by the French magazine.
Speaking at rallies in different cities and towns and during Juma congregations, religious scholars and leaders of public opinion strongly condemned the sacrilegious act of the French journal.
They emphasized that attack on the daily was deplorable but it was equally unfortunate to injure feelings of 1.5 billion Muslims in the name of freedom of expression and media.
“There should be limits to such freedoms as they cannot be allowed to impinge upon fundamental rights of other people,” they said.
The speakers urged the international community especially the United Nations to take serious notice of such provocative activities of some sections of the Western media, as these run against the spirit of inter-faith harmony, which is dire need of the time.
On Thursday, the National Assembly also unanimously adopted a resolution against blasphemous caricatures published in Charlie Hebdo.
The resolution strongly condemned the printing to blasphemous caricature of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and urged the European Union to take action to stop publishing of such ridiculous material.
