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Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told European Union lawmakers on Wednesday that no armed or pressure group would be allowed to challenge and dictate government policy and that the government had taken firm action against radical groups.
Virtually addressing the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, the foreign minister said: “We have firmly moved against radical groups after the recent protests. I can assure you that no armed or pressure group is being allowed to challenge the writ of the state and dictate government policy.”
Qureshi said that the world was witnessing a rise in Islamophobia thus there was a need to show “common resolve” to fight intolerance and incitement to violence on the basis of religion or belief.
He expressed disappointment at the adoption of the resolution by the European Parliament on blasphemy laws in Pakistan and said the discourse on the issue had reflected a “lack of understanding of blasphemy laws and associated religious sensitivities in Pakistan and in the wider Muslim world”.
Qureshi stressed on the need to appreciate religious sentiments related to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and religious symbols, adding that while Pakistan valued freedom of expression, it should not be used to hurt religious feelings.
“Wilful provocations and incitement to hate and violence must not be allowed and be universally outlawed.
“Our government has taken concrete steps to deescalate the situation arising from the publication of hurtful sketches and desecration of the Holy Quran in Europe,” said FM Qureshi.
The European Parliament had earlier adopted a resolution calling for a review of the GSP+ status granted to Pakistan in view of an “alarming” increase in the use of blasphemy accusations in the country as well as the rising number of online and offline attacks on journalists and civil society organisations
The resolution had called on the Government of Pakistan to “unequivocally condemn” incitement to violence and discrimination against religious minorities in the country.
‘Policy of restraint and peaceful coexistence’
The foreign minister added that geopolitical fault lines were being revived and getting deeper and “mutual trust and respect among states is eroding.”
“Existing conflicts are getting complex, new disputes are emerging, threats from terrorism are ever evolving and challenges emanating from hybrid and cyber threats are reshaping the security paradigm across the world. Misinformation and fake news are being spread as tools of state craft.”
Qureshi said Pakistan believed in the policy of “restraint and peaceful coexistence” thus its regional perspective was shaped and guided by the principles of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah: a foreign policy based on friendliness and goodwill towards all the nations of the world.
“Pakistan is well poised to assume an even greater role as a responsible and responsive member of the comity of nations.
“We want to anchor our international engagement in economic cooperation and the link between peace and development. Our focus is shifting from geopolitics to geo-economics,” emphasised the foreign minister.
He said Pakistan was focused on anchoring its economic security on the following principles:
- Connectivity by promoting trade, transit and energy flows among Central, South Asia and the Middle East
- Providing economic basis as a development strategy
- Peace within our borders and beyond
“Peace and stability in Afghanistan are paramount in realising our vision of regional economic integration and transregional connectivity,” Qureshi said on the importance of the Afghan peace process for Pakistan’s own goals.
He added that Pakistan had always supported a negotiated political settlement in Afghanistan through an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process instead of a military solution.
“Pakistan and the European Union have a common interest in bring peace and stability to Afghanistan. As a shared responsibility, Pakistan will continue to play a role in facilitating the Afghan peace process.”