ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has moved a resolution in the 10th Parliamentary Conference of the Muslim countries being held in Istanbul against publication of controversial caricatures by a French magazine.

According to a document received by Dawn on Monday, the resolution was moved by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq who is leading the Pakistani delegation at the conference.

“The resolution has been submitted to the OIC [Organisation of Islamic Cooperation] Secretariat set up for the conference,” a source privy to the proceedings in Turkey said.

Also read: OIC plans to sue French magazine

“Genuinely believes that freedom of expression should not be misused as a means to attack or hurt public sentiments and religious beliefs and in this regard Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights must be followed by all states. The Clause 2 of Article 10 of the European Union’s Convention on Human Rights also expresses similar context,” the draft resolution said.

It said that such malicious attacks on the sanctity of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and all other messengers of Allah were designed means of ‘hate speech’. “These are deliberate attempts to incite violence, create discord, widen misunderstandings among civilisations and thereby provide opportunities to the terrorist elements to capitalise on public sentiments,” it added.

A resolution was moved by NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq who is leading the Pakistani team at the OIC

The resolution has been drafted on the similar line as the one unanimously adopted by the National Assembly on Jan 15.

Referring to Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of the United Nations, the resolution noted that the publication of such derogatory material was also against the internationally recognised norms of freedom of expression. The resolution also quoted the Article 10 of the European Union’s Convention on Human Rights. Rejecting violence under any pretext, the resolution concludes by urging the international community, the UN, the OIC and the EU to jointly work for creating harmony and understanding among civilisations by taking steps to stop such heinous practices.

Published in Dawn January 20th , 2015

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