NA blasts profane sketches, Dutch documentary
ISLAMABAD – The National Assembly Tuesday passed a unanimous resolution strongly condemning publication of blasphemous sketches of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in newspapers of Denmark and release of provocative and derogatory documentary on Islam by a Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilder.
The resolution moved by the Minister for Information Ms Sherry Rehman was unanimously adopted by the House and demanded of the United Nations to take necessary legal, political and administrative steps to curb this trend and ensure respect for all religions and societies.
Earlier, at the outset of the proceedings Opposition MP Sh Waqas moved a privilege motion pointing out that on March 24 while Leader of Opposition Ch Pervaiz Elahi was delivering his speech the people sitting in the visitors gallery in violation of the NA Rules 23 and 24 breached the privilege of the Member as well as the august House by indulging in unreasonable sloganeering.
On his request the matter was sent to the House Committee concerned for review by the Acting Speaker, as the Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs did not raise any objection to it.
Meanwhile, in response to a calling attention notice moved by a number of MPs drawing the attention of the House toward the deteriorating law and order situation in Kurram Agency due to ongoing military operation, Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions Najamuddin Khan informed the House that military operation was not going on in the area and all what was happening there was due to the clashes between the local tribes.
To another calling attention notice moved by Engineer Amir Muqam regarding the closure of the Capacity Development Programme(CDP) by the National Commission for Human Development rendering thousands of employees jobless, Minister in Charge Farooq H. Naik informed the House that CDP was closed due to non-availability of funds and soon after the release of about Rs 174 million it would be restored and the 57 employees who were removed from service would be restored.
About the adoption of resolution against the caricature issue Ms Sherry said that the Governments of the Netherlands and Denmark were asked to prosecute the responsible people for defaming other religions under their own laws.
“They were told that right to freedom of expression does not give licence to offend the followers of any religion and that these sacrilegious acts went against the efforts of those countries and individuals who are building bridges between religions and civilizations.”
She said the House firmly believed that these acts of defamation and incitement of hatred not only deeply hurt the sentiments of Muslims all over the world but also threatened the stability of many societies.
She said such acts were in violation of international law including the UN Charter, as well as the domestic laws of the countries where these sacrilegious acts were carried out.
Sherry said that the House took note of the strong protest lodged with the respective governments by the Government of Pakistan as well as other Muslim countries individually or collectively in the OIC framework in this regard.
She said the House also took note of the recently adopted resolution on the mandate of special rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Council on freedom of expression which had mandated the rapporteur to report on instances where abuse or the right of freedom of expression constituted the act of religious discrimination.
She hoped that the UN would take further legal action to fill the gap in the existing legal regimes in relation to defamation of religions and incitement of hatred.
Earlier, MNA Sahibzada Muhammad Fazal-e-Karim moved a motion in the House to condemn the re-publication of blasphemous sketches.
The motion was unanimously adopted by the National Assembly and called upon the UN to take steps to curb the blasphemies on the person of all the Prophets and ensure their honour and dignity in its charter.
Those who took part in the discussion included Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Sahibzada Fazal Karim, Haneef Abbasi, Marvi Memon, Akram Masih, Naseer Ahmed Bhuta, Bushra Rehman, Muhammad Barjees Tahir, Mehboobullah Jan,Khushbakht Shujaat, Engineer Shaukatullah, Jamshed Ahmed Dasti, Dr Attiya Inayatullayh, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Haider Abbas Rizvi.
Source: The Nation
Date:4/16/2008
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