Pakistan to move forward by following principles of Islam: PM Khan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that Pakistan can only progress by following the golden principles of Islam, ARY News reported.

Addressing the nation through a video message, the PM said that Pakistan is the only country created in the name of Islam after the state of Madina Munawwara and could only move forward by following Islamic principles.

“Pakistan has no future other than becoming an Islamic Welfare State,” said Imran Khan.

About the Supreme Court decision in the case of Asia Bibi, the PM said that the SC decision was in line with the Constitution of Pakistan and the constitution is in line with Islamic principles.

“This (PTI) government has done against blasphemy which no other government could do, when a Dutch MP announced to exhibit blasphemous caricatures, we raised our voice on all forums and then the Dutch MP had to withdraw his announcement,” said Imran Khan.

He maintained that the PTI government not only raised the issue with Dutch ambassador and foreign minister but our foreign minister spoke about the issue in his speech at United Nations General Assembly.

He also asked the general public not to pay heed to a “small group of people” urging people to revolt against the state and remain peaceful.

The PM, however, warned all those violently protesting against the SC decision to stop their activities or else the “state will have to take action”.

Earlier in the day, Supreme Court had set aside the conviction of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman condemned to death for blasphemy and had ordered her immediate release.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel had reserved its ruling on Asia Bibi’s final legal appeal against execution on October 8.

A number of people had taken to streets in different cities of the country to protest against the decision.