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NA resolutions condemn anti-Quran film, cartoons

* Urge United Nations, Denmark and Netherlands to take action

By Irfan Ghauri and Muhammad Bilal

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday unanimously passed two resolutions condemning the reprinting of controversial cartoons and the release of a Dutch anti-Quran film in Denmark.

Information Minister Sherry Rehman and Sahibzada Fazle Karim moved the two resolutions.

“The House strongly condemns the printing and reprinting of the sacrilegious and blasphemous caricatures of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and the release of an offensive and derogatory TV documentary on Islam, entitled Fitna, by Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders,” said the resolution moved by Sherry.

The resolution also demanded that the Dutch and Danish governments prosecute the filmmaker and urged the United Nations to take legal, political and administrative measures to ensure respect for all religions in these societies.

The resolution took note of the recently adopted resolution on the mandate of Special rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Council on Freedom of Expression, which has mandated the Rapporteur to report an instance where abuse of the right of freedom of expression constituted the act of religious discrimination.

Karim’s resolution condemned the reprinting of the controversial cartoons in Danish newspapers and demanded that the UN make a law suggesting capital punishment for blasphemy.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi wanted the House to carry on with the session after the resolutions had been passed, but members demanded a debate on the issue.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, who arrived moments after the passage of the resolutions, intervened and requested Kundi to allow the members to speak.

Members of the lower house condemned the republishing of the caricatures in separate speeches and demanded that the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) be reactivated to address such issues.

Hanif Abbasi from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) demanded a ban on the import of Danish products, at which other members thumped their desks.

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