February 18, 2006	Saturday	Muharram 19, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, Feb 17: Religious minorities of Pakistan strongly condemn the publication of sacrilegious cartoons in European newspapers that provoked negative sentiments among the masses and hurt the feelings of Muslim brethren throughout the world.

This was stated by All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (Apma) Chairman Shahbaz Bhatti while speaking at a meeting of the representatives of different minority organizations, says a press release issued here on Friday.

The Apma chief said religious minorities of Pakistan shared the grief of Muslim brothers. “In a world of growing globalization and where religion is now in the epicentre of international relations, it is important that freedom of expression and opinion is balanced by a careful evaluation of the potential effects that one’s views and opinions have on other people’s beliefs,” he said.

Mr Bhatti said the United Nations (UN) should call all world religious leaders in an international conference to resolve major issues or conflicts and form an international commission with its charter to encourage religious tolerance, religious freedom and inter-religion dialogue in the world.

He said blasphemous cartoons were condemnable and irresponsible individual act of publisher, for which the entire world or Christians could not be blamed and linked. The issue can be settled through diplomatic means instead of rioting and violence which can tarnish the image of our country and weaken the purpose of protests too, he added.

The Apma chief urged the Pakistani nation to launch a letter campaign by writing letters to the UN on this issue and to adopt other peaceful means instead of provoking violence.