ISLAMABAD, Feb 19: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said the government and the Pakistan Muslim League had condemned the publishing of sacrilegious cartoons in some western newspapers at all forums worldwide.

The prime minister said this while talking to PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Chief Whip of National Assembly Sardar Nasrullah Khan Dareshak at the Prime Minister’s House on Sunday evening.

Mr Aziz said publication of the cartoons have hurt the feelings of every Muslim and have evoked condemnation across the world.

He said Pakistan’s Ambassador in Denmark has been called back.

He said the government has raised this issue at all forums, including the OIC and the UN. Pakistan has also given them various proposals to prevent the recurrence of such events, he said.

He said: “We believe in freedom of the press; however, it should not be used to hurt the religious sensibilities of the followers of any faith.”

The prime minister told the meeting that the government has invited the OIC secretary general to visit Pakistan next week so that a collective strategy could be formulated for the whole Ummah to deal with such situations.

He said that the government was committed to maintaining law and order at all costs and would not allow anyone to take the law in their own hands and damage life and property. “We should express our feelings in a peaceful manner,” he said.

Shaukat Aziz said that 2006 being the centenary year of the Pakistan Muslim League was an important year for the party and would be celebrated in a befitting manner throughout the country.

Reorganization of the PML and the upcoming Senate elections also came under discussion.

The chief minister Punjab apprised the prime minister about the various ongoing development projects in the province. He also informed the prime minister about the various steps taken by the provincial administration to maintain law and order.

Mr Aziz said the government’s key priority is to improve the standard of living of the people and ensure the provision of justice, education and health facilities at the grass roots level.

Talking about sugar supply in the country, the prime minister said that the supply of sugar to utility stores had been increased so that it could be available to people at reasonable rates.

He said more administrative measures are being taken to ensure continuous supply of sugar in the markets, and added that those mills which had stocked sugar had been asked to release it in the market.

The meeting was told that the country had adequate reserves of wheat and flour.

The prime minister said that their prices should be kept under strict watch so that atta could be available to the people at reasonable rates.—APP