ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said the desecration of Holy Quran was an attempt to create animosity between the Muslims and Christians and any recurrence of such condemnable act would in no way be tolerated.
The prime minister, in his address to the joint sitting of the parliament, urged the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to convene a special session to invite the Muslim world leaders, adopt a condemnatory resolution and also warn the Swedish government and such individuals against the recurrence of such condemnable act.
The prime minister urged the National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to form a committee with a mandate to formulate recommendations for their onward dissemination to the world including international organisations so that such acts could be prevented.
Prime Minister Shehbaz urged the House to put forward suggestions which would be raised at the UN platform to tell the world that the billions of Muslims will not allow such hateful acts to be repeated.
“This is beyond tolerance. This is not the first time as earlier too, same thing happened in Sweden. This must be condemned in the strongest possible words,” he remarked.
The prime minister recalled and appreciated the former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for her support to the Muslims, after an Islamophobic attack against Muslims, which was a positive attempt to establish peace between Muslims and Christians.
He told the House that he was trying to contact with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to request him for convening an urgent session to invite the Muslim leaders and adopt a condemnatory resolution. I will also ask him to warn such governments and individuals against redoing such acts aimed at fanning hatred, he added.
He said as per their belief, Muslims revered all of the religions and revealed books including Bible as Holy Quran taught patience and harmony.
He said despite that, such deliberate Islamophobic acts were being carried out to pit Muslims against Christians.
He said that despite their belated condemnation, the Swedish government would have to clarify its position as to why they allowed such an act under the protection of their police on the day when the Muslims were celebrating Eid-ul-Azha.
He also expressed his thanks to Pope Francis for condemning the incident and distancing himself from this profane act.
Shehbaz Sharif said the desecration of Holy Quran has aggrieved the entire Pakistani nation and the Muslim Ummah.
He urged the entire nation, including political and religious parties to collectively organize protest demonstrations and rallies across the country tomorrow to convey a message to the whole world that such Islamophobic acts are intolerable.
He said a committee of the House should also be constituted, which should furnish recommendations for prevention of such heinous acts in future.
The Prime Minister said though the Swedish Government has condemned the desecration of the Holy Quran, yet there is a question mark as to why it allowed the happening of this act.
He said the Swedish Government will have to make its policy clear on the matter. He demanded that the person involved in this act should be taken to the task.
Shehbaz Sharif said the Holy Quran, the last divine book, revealed on the last Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Rasool Allah Khatam-un-Nabiyyin Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, preaches brotherhood, tolerance and harmony.
He said the holy book of Muslims contains the names of various prophets including Jesus Christ as well as Maryium. Being Muslims we respect Jesus Christ as a prophet and all the other religions.
The Prime Minister said the sanctity of the Holy Quran and Prophet [Peace Be Upon Him] is part of our faith and no compromise can be made on this.
