Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday said the whole Muslim world’s collective voice and threat for trade boycott could put a stop to blasphemy as protest demonstrations would damage nothing but Pakistan’s booming economy.
Will expulsion of the French ambassador and cutting ties with them will stop this (blasphemy)? Is there any guarantee that no one will do it again? I know the West, if Pakistan does it (expels the French envoy), some other European country will do it again in the name of freedom of expression,” the prime minister said in his televised address to the nation.
Referring to the protest demonstrations by Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP), amidst their negotiations with the government, the prime minister said the riots had killed four police personnel and injured another over 800, besides 40 police vans were gutted and damage to private properties.
The prime minister said contrary to the TLP’s strategy of getting the demands fulfilled through agitation, he viewed that the heads of all Muslim states should make it clear at the forums in European Union and Western states as to why the Muslims got hurt by the blasphemy.
“The West does not understand. They do not even love the prophets the way we do with our Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). Even, they are not attached to the religion (the way we are). They will have to be made it understood,” he stressed.
Imran Khan made it clear that the protest demonstrations would make a difference only to Pakistan, not France.
Currently, he said, Pakistan’s economy was on the boom with its large-scale industry getting better, creating jobs and wealth, and rupee getting strengthened.
He said last week, a party tried to show as they loved the Holy Prophet (PBUH) more than the others did.
He said he also desired that there should be no blasphemy of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) but the difference was about the method.
