KARACHI, Feb 15: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Wednesday, rejecting all attempts to malign Islam, asked Muslims to exercise restraint and not to resort to indulging in violence as this was serving the purpose of only those who had published the blasphemous caricatures.

“No country or person has the right to ridicule others’ religion. There are no two opinions on the subject,” Iqbal Haider, Secretary General of the HRCP, said. He was addressing a press conference held here on the occasion of the launching of the HRCP’s annual report, “State of Human Rights in 2005”.

While attempts to dishonour religious beliefs are unacceptable, resorting to violence to lodge protest is altogether condemnable. In this regard, he cited the violent incidents in Lahore on Tuesday.

He observed that the situation reflected complete failure of the local administration.—PPI