Unfortunate that political, religious parties misuse Islam: PM Imran
Prime Minister Imran Khan lamented on Monday that political and religious parties in Pakistan “misused” Islam to deal damage to the country itself and said he had started a campaign which joined together heads of state of Muslim countries to present the case for honour of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) on international forums.
Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony for the Margalla Highway in Islamabad, the prime minister said: “ln our country it is a great misfortune that many times our political parties and religious parties use Islam wrongly and use it such that they deal damage to their own country.”
He said that the people of Pakistan loved the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and nowhere in any country had he seen “the kind of attachment with religion and love for Prophet (PBUH) as in our country”.
“So I am saddened that many times this love is misused. Does the government not worry about this? That when there is disrespect of Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) honour then aren’t we pained?” he questioned, adding that who could decide how much or how less someone loved the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
The prime minister said that such actions did not benefit Islam in any way and no loss was dealt to the country in which the blasphemous act was committed. Instead only Pakistan suffered a loss, he said.
“Violent protests in Pakistan will make no difference to the country where the blasphemous act has occurred.”
The prime minister said it was his “promise” to the people of Pakistan that if anyone ran a campaign for the protection of the honour of the Prophet (PBUH) then a time would come when anyone in western countries would “fear” disrespecting the Prophet’s (PBUH) honour and committing any blasphemy.
He vowed to introduce a campaign which would seek to join Muslim countries so that the issue can be taken up on international forums, such as the European Union and United Nations.
“When we begin a campaign by collecting all Muslim countries […] it will make a difference and change will come in the West. Otherwise we will continue vandalising the country and no one will be affected in the Western world.”
The premier said that through this campaign, a permanent solution would be found to the issue so that no one sitting abroad can insult the honour of Holy Prophet (PBUH).
