The National Assembly (NA) on Monday has urged the government to expel the Indian ambassador within 24 hours and boycott the Indian products over the derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) made by members of the ruling Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
The lawmakers called for aggressive steps and to go beyond mere “lip-service” condemnations. Speaking on the floor, Minister for Religious Affairs Mufti Abdul Shakoor urged the government not to limit itself to merely passing resolutions in the NA and take the matter up with the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the United Nations (UN).
He said it was unfortunate that international human rights organisations remained silent on this important issue.
He said Pakistan would invite members from all Muslim countries to the Rehmat Ul Alameen Conference, during which a strategy would be devised to prevent derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) worldwide.
He asked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to raise this issue in the Generation Assembly of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Meanwhile, MNA Syed Imran Ahmad Shah termed the blasphemous remarks unfortunate and urged Muslims across the country to show unity on this issue.
He said that the Indian leaders had hurt the sentiments of 1. 5 billion Muslims across the globe, adding that the people involved in this crime should be punished.
Shah asked the government to approach the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the UN to highlight this critical issue.
Moreover, MNA Moulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali said it was a fundamental part of Muslims’ faith to love Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) more than their children and parents. He also asked the government to call back Pakistan’s High Commissioner from India and expel the Indian High Commissioner from Pakistan.
MNA Sabir Hussain Kaim Khani said all Muslims were ready to sacrifice their lives for the sanctity of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
MNA Shagufta Jamani strongly condemned the derogatory remarks and asked the government to take up the issue at all the international forums.
MNAs Ghaus Bux Khan Mahar, Muhammad Afzal Khan Dhandla, Salahuddin Ayubi, and Nisar Ahmed Cheema participated in the debate. They expressed their concerns, condemning the derogatory remarks in the strongest terms.
In late May and early this month, two senior spokespersons for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)made remarks that offended Muslims, in one case in a television debate and in the other on social media.
The party suspended both and said it condemned any insult towards any religion. Indian police have also filed official complaints against the two, a step that can lead to a formal investigation, but that did not stop angry Muslims from protesting the remarks.
Police said they arrested at least 400 suspected rioters during unrest in several states, curfews were imposed, and internet services were suspended in some places.
Read more: Indian police step up arrests following religious unrest over anti-Islam remarks
Critics say his BJP has pursued a confrontational line, promoting the idea that India is a Hindu nation and rounding on “anti-national” opponents. Many Muslims see this as an attempt to marginalise their community, which comprises 13% of India’s 1.35 billion population.
Authorities in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday demolished the home of a Muslim man linked to the riots, drawing the condemnation of the state government, led by the BJP, from constitutional experts and rights groups.
Muslims and rights groups interpreted the destruction of the house as punishment for the riots, but state authorities said it was because it was illegally built on public land.
“We are not demolishing houses to stop Muslims from protesting as they have all the right to take to the streets,” an aide to the state’s hardline Hindu leader said.
Modi has not commented on the anti-Islam remarks that sparked the protests even as condemnation grew abroad.
Countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, and Iran, important trade partners for India, have lodged diplomatic protests.
With input from Tribune, Reuters