-Pakistan lodges protest with Indian Envoy
-NA, Senate pass resolutions condemning blasphemous remarks by Indian officials
-Foreign Secretary apprises P-5 Envoys on the issue
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Armed Forces on Monday strongly condemned the blasphemous remarks by Indian officials (BJP leaders) and termed their statements as an indication of extreme hatred towards Muslims and other religions in India .
Director General of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a tweet, said that the outrageous act is deeply hurtful and clearly indicates extreme level of hate against Muslims and other religions in India.
Earlier, the Indian Charge d’ Affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and conveyed the Government of Pakistan’s categorical rejection and strong condemnation of the highly derogatory remarks made by two senior officials of India’s ruling party BJP about the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The Indian diplomat was told that these remarks were totally unacceptable and had not only deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of Pakistan but of Muslims across the world, the Foreign Office said.
The Indian diplomat was further told that Pakistan deplores the belated and perfunctory disciplinary actions taken by the BJP government against the said officials, which cannot assuage the pain caused to the Muslims.
“Pakistan is deeply concerned at the alarming rise in communal violence and hatred against the Muslims in India. Muslims are being systematically stigmatized, marginalized and subjected to a well- orchestrated onslaught from radical Hindu mobs with full connivance and support of the security apparatus across various states in India,” the FO said in a statement.
The FO said growing mainstreaming of the reprehensible anti-Muslim sentiment and the increasing attempts at depriving the Muslims of their centuries-old places of worship citing frivolous historical claims, are nothing but the obvious outcomes of the deep-seated Islamophobia in the Indian society.
“Pakistan strongly urges the BJP leadership and the government of India to unequivocally condemn the sacrilegious comments of the BJP officials and ensure that they are held accountable through decisive and demonstrable action against them for attacking the dignity of the Holy Prophet (PBUH),” it said.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood individually met the Envoys of the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council (P-5) in Islamabad Monday to apprise them of the derogatory and offensive remarks made by two senior officials of India’s ruling party BJP, against the Holy Prophet PBUH.
Recalling the special responsibility of the P-5 countries regarding the maintenance of international peace and security and upholding of the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, the Foreign Secretary called upon them to take cognizance of this abhorrent development, the growing hate speech, and the rising tide of Islamophobia in India.
The Foreign Secretary underscored that the BJP’s perfunctory and token disciplinary action against these individuals will not assuage the hurt they have caused to Muslims worldwide.
Noting the clear and consistent pattern of state-sanctioned persecution of Muslims, the Foreign Secretary added that the failure of the BJP leadership and the Indian Government to unequivocally condemn the recent sacrilegious comments was yet another proof of the impunity enjoyed by ‘Hindutva’ zealots.
He stressed that India must be urged to take decisive and demonstrable actions against those responsible. India should also be held accountable for stifling the rights of its religious minorities, especially its Muslim population, and urged to ensure full protection of their fundamental rights and freedoms.
Earlier, the National Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution, strongly condemning the derogatory remarks uttered by India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders against Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
The resolution, moved by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, said the whole nation was in the state of shock to hear such remarks by the two BJP leaders.
The resolution said the Muslims across the world had great love and affection for Holy Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH), as in the Holy Quran they (Muslims) had been bound to love the Prophet (PBUH) more than their parents and children.
It said the derogatory remarks had saddened the whole nation, including the non-Muslims.
The resolution said with such remarks, the Muslims living in India had also been harassed and mentioned that the BJP government always followed the anti-Muslim policy.
The resolution demanded of the Indian government to take strict action against the BJP leaders, who had passed such derogatory remarks and hurt the sentiments of Muslims, besides ensuring that such remarks should not be repeated.
It also urged the international community to take notice of India’s anti-Muslim policy.
Senate of Pakistan also unanimously passed a resolution strongly condemning blasphemous remarks of the leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against Holy Prophet PBUH.
The resolution Monday, tabled by Senator Saleem Mandviwala in the Upper House, expressed strong condemnation of the highly derogatory and sacrilegious remarks made by two senior leaders of India’s ruling BJP against the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
“These derogatory remarks reflect the fascist face of Indian government, which deeply hurts the sentiments of the people of Pakistan, Muslims and respectful people across the world.
The Senate of Pakistan is deeply concerned at the rising communal violence and hatred against Muslims in India. Muslims are being systematically stigmatized, marginalized and subjected to a well-orchestrated state sponsored physical, economic, social and religious assault from radical mentality in India.” it added.
It may be mentioned here that the Baharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma made desecrating remarks against the Prophet (PBUH) in a talk show and Naveen Kumar Jindal also shared her remarks on Twitter which was now deleted.
