As anti-blasphemous protests continue to boil in parts of Pakistan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution, condemning the planned competition of blasphemous cartoons in Netherlands.
Moved by Fazl Elahi of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the joint resolution has signatures of other MPAs of the party including Fazl Shakoor, Asif Khan and Arif Khan.
The resolution stated that the competition of the blasphemous caricatures is an onslaught to hurt the feelings of Muslims around the world. It further stated that the society, which calls itself the champion of the freedom of expression and human rights, has failed to uphold its standards and such an impertinent attitude is blatant disregard of Muslim values and sentiments.
“The KP assembly urged the provincial government that the central government should summon the Netherlands High Commissioner who should convey to his government to cancel the competition,” the resolution stated.
Talking on a point, Inayatullah of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) said that an amendment should be made to the resolution to expel the Dutch ambassador from Pakistan. But the treasury members said that the ending of diplomatic ties is already mentioned in the resolution, and there is no need to amend it.
Later, the Deputy Speaker, Mahmood Jan put the resolution to vote and the house adopted it unanimously.
Moreover, the House passed another resolution, demanding an end to unannounced load shedding and repair of transmission lines in the province. Parliamentary leader of Awami National Party (ANP) Sardar Hussain Babak move the resolution.
Furthermore, the House passed another resolution to allow the use of provincial assembly hall for polling on September 4, 2018 for the election of President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Published in Daily Times, August 31st 2018.