In first Senate speech, PM vows to raise sacrilegious caricatures issue in UN

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday strongly condemned the competition of sacrilegious caricatures being held in the Netherlands and vowed to raise the issue in the United Nations.

The prime minister was addressing the Senate after it passed a unanimous resolution against a competition of sacrilegious caricatures being held in the Netherlands later this year.

The resolution was tabled by PTI leader Shibli Faraz in a session of the Upper House presided by deputy chairman Senate Saleem Mandviwalla.

PM Imran said they will raise the issue against the blasphemous sketches in the United Nations, and the resolution passed by the Senate will also be presented in the UN.

He said that such activities cannot be allowed on the pretext of freedom of speech, and very few people in Europe are sympathetic towards hurting the sentiments of Muslims and don’t realise the sanctity and respect for the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

He said that the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) should also unite against the blasphemous sketches to give a clear message to the world and a session the Muslim body should be convened. He vowed that Pakistan will prioritise the issue and will raise it with the UN.

PM Imran gave the example of the Holocaust and how several European countries have jail sentences for denying the Holocaust as it hurts the sentiments of Jewish community. “We need a similar policy for this matter so that people do not repeatedly hurt our sentiments,” he said.

Question hour in Senate

He also promised that he will answer questions in the Senate after every two weeks as even the ministers and senators are answerable to the parliament.”It is up to the government to raise the importance of these institutions,” he said.

He said that they will strengthen the process of accountability and ensure that ministers and senators are regularly present in the House.

Expressing concern over the economic conditions, he said that steps will be taken to change the situation, and that the taxpayer’s money is for their welfare rather than the luxurious lifestyle of politicians.

“This country is among the most charitable countries but also pays the least amount of tax. This is because people have not trusted past governments,” adding that people needs to given assurances their money is utilised properly.

“Change will only come if we strive for it or it will not,” he said adding they will create a example by adopting austerity measures. He also vowed to reduce expenses, stop money laundering, and make efforts to increase government revenue.