Sartaj Aziz has written to the OIC secretary general suggesting steps that could be taken against the magazine. PHOTO: REUTERS
The Prime Minister’s Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has written to the OIC secretary general suggesting steps that could be taken against the magazine, foreign ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said on Tuesday. “Pakistan strongly condemns the publication of blasphemous caricatures in the French magazine,” she added.
Aslam said the president and the prime minister strongly condemned the publication, which has caused great offence to Muslims by hurting their sentiments and religious sensibilities. The National Assembly and Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee have passed resolutions condemning the publication as well.
“We believe that freedom of expression should not be misused as a means to attack or hurt public sentiments or religious beliefs,” Aslam stressed. “This is an attempt to divide peoples and civilisations. There is a need to promote harmony among peoples and communities instead of reinforcing stereotypes and making people alienated in their own countries.”
Muslims across the globe have criticised Charlie Hebdo for printing the caricatures days after the magazine’s offices were attacked by two gunmen in Paris earlier this month.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2015.
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@Dishum: Not all old men are cranky. They have accumulated wisdom. What has OIZc do so far anyway. All those in OIC are do-nothing chaps , not Mr. Aziz.
@vinsin, With your reply, it should be perfectly alright for anybody to ridicule any religion or religious person. Try doing it in India against hinuism or the idols, or against jews in the West. Freedom of speech only suits if its against the other person or group.
@Urban Legend: Islam is a religion or ideology which you can change you cannot change your race, historical events etc. Muslims countries do not follow international laws based on human rights, many of them are islamic states.
Talk against black, you are racist. Speak against jews, you are Anti-semitic. But when you make joke of Islam, its Freedom of Speech. Its high time that muslim nations force the International Community to define "Freedom of Speech".
Don't know why you people feel so insecure.
Before raising its fingers on others, Pakistan should look at itself how it treats other religions within it. Look at Zaid Hamid - "Hum hinduon ka katl karenge aur unki khad hamari faslon keliye achee hogi" or another character Aamir Liaquat - look and his TV shows - full of hatred towards Ahmediyas. If these communities can grin and bear it in Pakistan even at the cost of their lives, then why cannot Pakistanis live with somebody else having an opinion on Islam?
@Viking Star: Totally agree with you and you are absolutely rightful because OIC is the organization of eunuchs who can only entertain never can protect their rights....
Who says that OIC will play its pivotal role in this regard and whoever even thinks is living in the fool's paradise because OIC is only a nominal organization which can never protect muslims and muslims' interests across the world because most of the muslim states are afraid of US,US' and UNSC's sanctions this is why muslims' rights across the world are badly ignored by OIC.....
Nice joke! As if the OIC has resolved many issues in the past. OIC cant even handle disputes within Gulf/Muslim countries, forget about taking action against France of Charlie.
Sartaj Aziz has a lot of free time and loves to write letters like a cranky old man.
bravo, first time old man