Freedom of expression should not be misused: Tasneem Aslam

Pakistan strongly condemns the blasphemous cartoons published in the French weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo, Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Echoing the sentiments of the people of Pakistan, the president and the prime minister have strongly condemned the publication, which has caused great offence to Muslims by hurting their sentiments and religious sensibilities all over the world," said Aslam.

She further said that the National Assembly and the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee have passed resolutions condemning the cartoons which hurt the core belief of all Muslims. Know more: NA adopts resolution against blasphemous Charlie Hebdo cartoons.

"We believe that freedom of expression should not be misused as means to attack or hurt public sentiments or religious beliefs," she remarked. She elaborated that it is an attempt to create a divide among people and civilisations.

Aslam called for a need to promote harmony among people and communities instead of reinforcing stereotypes and alienating people in their own countries.

The Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, has written a letter to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) secretary general, recommending a legal action to seek an apology from the French magazine and a joint action by the Ummah to get all acts of Islamophobia criminalised.