Summoning of French ambassador: IHC moved seeking directions for govt

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was approached on Monday seeking directions to the government to summon French ambassador and ask the government of France to tender apology and restrain the Charlie Hebdo magazine and its editor from committing blasphemy.

Shohada Foundation of Pakistan through its trustee Hafiz Ihtesham Ahmed filed the petition.

The petition filed by the counsel Tariq Asad Advocate cited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Prime Minister through Principal Secretary, and Secretary Ministry of Interior as respondents.

The petitioner stated that the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, published several crude caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, which are blasphemous, defamatory, racist, and based on Islamophobia, which has provoked the Muslims around the world. He added that the Muslims condemn the French government.

He adopted that Gérard Biard, the editor in chief of Charlie Hebdo who stood by its editorial choice, saying: "We are a newspaper that respects French law. Now, if there's a law that is different in Kabul or Riyadh, we're not going to bother ourselves with respecting it."

Petitioner's counsel contended that this is the darkest side of the incident that the government of France has also supported the evil gesture of Charlie Hebdo newspaper commenting that that was in accordance with the fundamental right of speech and expression of the citizens of France.

He further said it is pertinent to mention that this is the first occasion that the blasphemy has been committed on official level and the government failed to protect the sentiments and faith of the Muslims.

Therefore, he prayed to the court to issue directions to the government to call the Ambassador of France and warn him to ask his government to tender his apology and restrain the Charlie Hebdo newspaper and its editor from committing blasphemy again, meanwhile direct the respondents to call of the diplomatic relations with France.

He also requested the court to direct the respondents to declare officially the boycott of French products in Pakistan markets, and direct the respondents to take necessary steps on international level to get the laws of the European States, US, European Convention of Human Rights and United States Covenants amended to give reverence to the holy Prophet Muhammad in line with Article 295-C PPC that whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with minimum sentence of life imprisonment.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020