Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lawmakers on Monday pressed their own government to take action against latest blasphemous posts on social media.

Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law Capt (r) Safdar Awan in his emotional speech demanded that the government take action against those involved in blasphemous posts on social media. He added, “Block the whole social media because nothing is dearer than respect of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Issuing the blasphemous post again and again on social media is the failure of PTA to stop it and also not implementation of National Action Plan. Before the whole nation comes out on the roads, the government should take action.”

Several other PML-N legislators talked about the blocking of social media if the blasphemous material could not be removed.

However, PPP legislator Shazia Marri challenged their arguments. She called the PML-N lawmakers speeches as dangerous because it would provoke people to take to the street.

Lawmakers from both the opposition and the treasury benches criticised the recent anti-Pakistan statement issued by former Pakistani envoy to the US Hussain Haqqani. According to them, Haqqani wanted to seek fresh appointment and wanted to attract the attention of the new US administration. They were of the view that his statements badly damaged the country’s name abroad.

Earlier, the PPP-led opposition staged a walkout against victimisation of political workers, particularly in Punjab. Before the walkout, Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah said political workers were being targeted in Punjab and PPP worker Babar Suhail Butt was killed in his house.