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The Foreign Office (FO) on Monday called the charge d'affaires of the Netherlands to record a protest against the "announcement by the leader of Dutch Freedom Party and Parliamentarian Geert Wilders to hold a competition of blasphemous caricatures."
According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Pakistan's Ambassador in The Hague has also been instructed "to forcefully raise the issue with the Dutch government along with Ambassadors of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states."
The Foreign Office has also assured that Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will lead the discussion of the matter in the upcoming meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, scheduled to be held in September.
Pakistan's Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in New York and Geneva have also been directed to take up the matter with the UN Secretary General and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Earlier today, the federal cabinet had also "strongly condemned this abominable and reprehensible plan," in its maiden meeting.
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On DawnNews
Comments (83) Closed
Aug 20, 2018 07:18pm
Why get involved in this? This isn't Pakistan First. Focus on Pakistan not unnecessary issues with other countries. If there is a concern talk in private. If the point is to openly discuss all then it's similar to tweeting where the other party also has to show strength to protect face.
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Aug 20, 2018 07:26pm
Gloves off.
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Aug 20, 2018 07:46pm
Geert Wilders is a Trump supporter and widely rejected in Holland, though lodging a protest is democratic but I would suggest not to peruse this further because you can’t exoect a Trump supporter to give due respect to others.
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Aug 20, 2018 07:50pm
Despicable act to incite followers of a certain religion just for the sake of it
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Aug 20, 2018 07:55pm
Wow good move!
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Aug 20, 2018 07:56pm
One of the two great initial actions by the new Foreign Minister. The other was lie about Indian PM's letter for talks.
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Aug 20, 2018 08:05pm
Geert Wilders Is attention seeker.
Noone takes him seriuosly in netherlands
Muslims should also ignore him.
The more we talk about it, more he achieves his objective.
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Aug 20, 2018 08:06pm
Like there is no problems to be solved first in pakistan that he has to bother about other things in some remote place
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Aug 20, 2018 08:16pm
Playing to the gallery. Disappointing
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Aug 20, 2018 08:23pm
Good sign
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Aug 20, 2018 08:29pm
It's about time. Good initiative.
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Aug 20, 2018 08:32pm
Freedom of expression
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Aug 20, 2018 08:35pm
With freedom comes the concept of responsibility. A freedom exercised without responsibility can cause chaos. Also, two wrongs don't make a right. If some fanatics do stupid things in the name of Islam, that cannot be corrected by doing equally stupid things against Islam.
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Aug 20, 2018 08:38pm
It important to speak up and strongly protest against those who try to insult Islam or islamic values. If muslims do not speak up against those culprits, than who will. All muslims need to full fill their duty.
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Aug 20, 2018 08:44pm
Back to same old philosophy of interfering in non-issues of other countries. What UN, OIC or Pakistan has to do for a small competition in a far away country. Nobody knew about such competition in Pakistan but now many do.
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Aug 20, 2018 08:45pm
The most annoying thing for the Dutch would be if these cartoons were completely ignored. Take no notice and the problem will go away, if it is a problem.
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Aug 20, 2018 08:46pm
Pakistan first was the foreign policy just 2 days back.. What happened, why messing with Netherlands unnecessary
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Aug 20, 2018 08:51pm
Very good start Mr. Foreign Minister.
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Aug 20, 2018 08:53pm
Nawaz Sharif would never has done what a two days old PTI government did - this type of prompt responses are expected from Imran Khan and his team. See the difference between a competent and incompetent governments.
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Aug 20, 2018 08:58pm
First issue to be taken up by government.
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Aug 20, 2018 09:05pm
Calm down. Need pragmatism. This type of behavior will come back to haunt. You need the money to run the country.
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Aug 20, 2018 09:05pm
as if Dutch Care a Dime ??
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Aug 20, 2018 09:11pm
Well done SMQ
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Aug 20, 2018 09:29pm
Good, but don't waste your time on these matters. Wilders is an unpopular person even in his own country. So, let this cat climb the latter of media as it will not yield anything.
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Aug 20, 2018 09:30pm
Not a single Arab countries protest, but Pakistan does.
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Aug 20, 2018 09:31pm
Imran Khan should attend and eventually lead the OIC. He is strong enough to unite all muslim nations and be the leader of OIC.
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Aug 20, 2018 09:48pm
Very important issue, most pressing issue at the moment.
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Aug 20, 2018 09:50pm
That's called taking the lead. Bring your full weight to bear on issues that concern all of us. Be assertive and make your voice heard by others sitting up and listening...
Pakistan is not a banana repulic that NS and PPP had made it out to be - without any teeth.A s one of the largest Muslim countries, the only Muslim nuclear power, sixth largest militatry in the world and regional power, it is about time the Pakistani leaderhip become vocal on the world stage and be taken seriously.
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Aug 20, 2018 09:51pm
Alhamdolillah great stand in the right forum. Shame on western freedom of speech that unfairly hurt feelings of Millions of Muslims around the world
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Aug 20, 2018 09:56pm
Good work. There shouldn’t be any waste of time in taking actions against such reprehensible events which incite hatred in the name of Freedom of Speech. Who do they think they are fooling through their mischievous acts?
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Aug 20, 2018 10:05pm
Most educated, but ignorant people, who consider disrespect and hurting the feelings of billions of people, in the name of freedom. The saner people of Nether land and all other European countries must raise their voice and stop this malicious and blasphemous act, and reject those leaders who sell hatred to the people around the globe.
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Aug 20, 2018 10:14pm
Well, looks like not much to do in Pakistan these days
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Aug 20, 2018 10:26pm
Is this your first foreign policy position? Baffling.
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Aug 20, 2018 10:28pm
i'm confused. how is it any of Pakistan's business what happens in Netherlands? Do we not have enough problems at home?
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Aug 20, 2018 10:28pm
No wonder you are not going to progress if this is all you can focus on.
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Aug 20, 2018 10:36pm
Triggered
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Aug 20, 2018 10:43pm
Shah Mehmood is incompetent. He said India is ready for dialogue and today India denied that. What a shame!
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Aug 20, 2018 10:45pm
I had not heard about it, I doubt anybody knew about it. But you had to mention it, if you had not, it would have past by without anyones knowledge. You are to blame for giving it importance!!! It's their country, let them be!!
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Aug 20, 2018 10:46pm
Nice set of priorities.
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Aug 20, 2018 10:57pm
How is this Pakistan first? can u first look at getting better relations with neighbors?
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Aug 20, 2018 10:58pm
Ever tried to record a protest against those who ridicule other religions at ever possible occasion?
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Aug 20, 2018 11:06pm
Its high time pakistan take a bold and vibrant role on issues like that and lead muslim world.
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Aug 20, 2018 11:13pm
We need to sanction them freezing their assets.
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Aug 20, 2018 11:20pm
Hope all Muslim nati9ns follow suit. If they still insist doing it have them pack up and leave the country/ie’s until the get the message. Further this should be enforced globally through various Organisation including UN.
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Aug 20, 2018 11:22pm
Good.
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Aug 20, 2018 11:23pm
I think this is not enough. Expel their ambassador until they put a ban on such activities and apologise to the Muslim Ummah.
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Aug 20, 2018 11:34pm
Complain to China,May be they will convey your message
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Aug 20, 2018 11:52pm
Why bother what others do ?
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Aug 20, 2018 11:57pm
It is hatred towards Islam under the disguise of freedom of expression.
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Aug 20, 2018 11:58pm
Is this an attempt to tell other country that freedom of speech and expression should be not allowed?
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Aug 21, 2018 12:16am
their will be befitting response from all over muslim world.
Dutch Govt. should take action againts this shameful act whic is not acceptable for amy muslim and reaction will appear
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Aug 21, 2018 12:18am
Let's watch for Saudis to pull their investments in Scandinavia now.
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Aug 21, 2018 12:31am
This is not enough.
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Aug 21, 2018 01:13am
And People of Pak wants other countries not to medal with its affairs. New government is no better than the previous one. They also tend to take populist approach towards foreign policy.
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Aug 21, 2018 01:34am
Our protest doesn't matter unless oil-rich, petrodollar rich take part in the protest.
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Aug 21, 2018 01:44am
And the Muslim world is quite.,
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Aug 21, 2018 02:06am
Protest against this
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Aug 21, 2018 02:33am
You guys give him more exposure than what he gets here in The Netherlands. I havent heard anything about it. And all me friends in Pakistan are talking about him. Just ignore him...
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Aug 21, 2018 02:41am
Lets mind our own business
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Aug 21, 2018 02:49am
Of course this is outrageous, but just wait a moment and please consider: does not the fact that countries like Pakistan get all worked up about things like this pathetic competition just play into the hands of extremists like Geert Welders? He only does this because he knows he will get a lot of attention. Just let him and his wretched competition be. Without the oxygen of publicity he craves, he will fail. He and his noxious right-wing party does not deserve any of our attention.
Evil people of far greater significance than the inconsequential Geert Welders and his little country have striven to destroy our religion over the centuries (think of the Mongols in the 13th century, or of how Muslim nations were occupied by European empires a hundred years ago, or of the USSR in Muslim Central Asia and Afghanistan in recent times.....), and where are they today?
Geert Winders is insignificant. He seeks relevance by openly denigrating other religions and races. Don't fall into his trap.
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Aug 21, 2018 02:54am
Just give it little more time. InshAllah soon our protest will matter.
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Aug 21, 2018 03:32am
please don't pay attention, they are blackmailing us through our emotions. they want to pinch us to de-track us from the real course. they can see pk is making progress or doing people welfare.
netherlands artist proves the quality his origin, by doing such things.
they want us never to focus on our issues, get trapped in their cat and mouse game. we have love and devotion for our religion.
Look at the time this event, it is totally planted event orchestrated to engage pk people in useless activity. Move the focus of Imran khan to non-issues.
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Aug 21, 2018 03:33am
we are mature people and we should never pay attention to these paid rats.
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Aug 21, 2018 03:34am
i would request dawn to promote the same message among people.
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Aug 21, 2018 03:35am
their purpose is to keep us pinching, so that we are never making progress in any thing. PTI and Imran have given hope to PK. This is disturbing them a lot.
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Aug 21, 2018 03:36am
we as a nation must keep our heads cool and ignore. pursue the road to progress and development
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Aug 21, 2018 03:54am
Good news ,it should be followed up (if the Dutch ignore it) with boycott of Phillips Electrical Co. and Shell oil Co. I think public reaction might be more appropriate than involving Government. If every one stop filling at Shell gas stations, it will pinch fast.
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Aug 21, 2018 03:59am
@Fareed N My suggestion is, we stop filling at Shell stations it will send quick message to dutch.
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Aug 21, 2018 04:10am
Our protest does matter. We speak for the silent majority of Muslims around the world whose leaders are too afraid or don't care.
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Aug 21, 2018 04:43am
The only thing this protest will surely attain is bring more attention to the competition that otherwise most of us would've never heard of.
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Aug 21, 2018 04:50am
@Fareed N: Religion is bigger than such things. Ignoring these cartoons will show the greatness of the people of the faith. My advice is ignore and do not go down the path of violence.
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Aug 21, 2018 05:13am
No one will listen,until you strengthen yourselves. There is a new government, and without being distracted,one should work for own welfare without being dragged into
Things which could be avoided. Please don't lose focus Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Please don't repeat your previous mistakes.learn from past.
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Aug 21, 2018 05:14am
What happened to Pakistan First? Please focus on Pakistan and try to not use emotional issues which do not change ground realities.
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Aug 21, 2018 06:40am
honestly, people can be stupid if they want to. Just register a protest and forget it. Turn to more constructive things.
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Aug 21, 2018 07:14am
Stop buying their goods. Thats how it hurts.
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Aug 21, 2018 07:17am
Pakistan is a nuclear power. All nations must respect Pakistan.
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Aug 21, 2018 07:51am
@Fareed N we have to all protest. Let us individually do our duty, and join all others who are protesting. There could some selfish people who are left behind ,let's not care for them
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Aug 21, 2018 08:08am
Good, we have Patriotic Government in house now!
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Aug 21, 2018 12:23pm
Dawn why have you removed this from the front page although older and quite irrelevant news is still being displayed? Is this some ‘policy’ decision on your part. And where is my comment I sent you ?
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Aug 21, 2018 12:50pm
In no other civilization such things happen!
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Aug 22, 2018 01:59am
@Shehz : what has Scandinavia to do with the Netherlands? Please buy a globe or redo high school, if attended at all
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Aug 22, 2018 02:07am
@SyedChaudhryGangaDinKhan Mr. Q is attention seeker too. He truly needs to calm down. If I recall correctly, he made the matters worst with India when he was a foreign minster in PPP government. PPP had to replace him with a much younger FM. Mr. Q. likes to hear himself talk -- he shouts from distance. I am afraid he will dig up old graves and will never be able to sit on a negotiating table with our foes. I am not optimistic about Mr. Q. handling the foreign affairs. I hope I am wrong.
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Aug 22, 2018 06:18am
Back to old interferences in other countries
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