IHC refers decision on breaking off ties with France to federal cabinet

Dismisses petition after calling on cabinet to decide matter keeping in view public sentiments

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday directed to take up the matter of severing ties with France, over publication of blasphemous sketches, before the federal cabinet.

A petition calling for Pakistan to break off diplomatic relations with France was heard in the IHC wherein Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani maintained that the federal cabinet should take a decision keeping in view public sentiments.

Lawyer for the petitioner, Martyr's Foundation, Tariq al Assad appeared before the court and argued that several Muslim countries, including Turkey and Qatar, had protested against the publication of the sketches in France.

"The worst thing is that French President Emmanuel Macron asked for the sketches to be displayed on two buildings," he added.

Justice Kiyani remarked that the Pakistan government has condemned the act, the French ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office and a resolution has been passed by the National Assembly.

The court dismissed the case by referring the matter to the federal cabinet.

Earlier this week, Pakistan condemned the publication of blasphemous caricatures in France and the Islamophobic remarks of the French president and lodged a strong protest with French ambassador, followed by the passage of resolutions in both houses of the parliament.

The resolutions in the Senate and the National Assembly were passed unanimously, as the lawmakers from both sides of the divide calling for recalling Pakistan’s ambassador in Paris in protest, saying that the French president had hurt the sentiments of billions of Muslims around the globe.

The FO summoned French Ambassador Marc Baréty to record Pakistan’s strong protest over French President Emmanuel Macron's Islamophobic comments and publication of blasphemous sketches.

The special secretary for Europe handed over a letter of protest to the French ambassador.