Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, April 21 (APP): Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Wednesday said that Pakistan had vociferously expressed its serious concerns over the increasing trend of Islamophobia in the West which was being fanned by certain extremist elements.

Addressing the officials of Embassy of Pakistan in Tehran during his visit, the foreign minister said they did not oppose the right to freedom of speech and expression but it did not give anyone the right to hurt others’ feelings.

ISLAMABAD, April 21 (APP): President of Tunisia Kais Saied has sent a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan in response to his earlier letter seeking a joint action by the Muslim world to counter Islamophobia.

Tunisian Ambassador Borhene El Kamel handed over the letter to the prime minister as he paid a call on him here on Wednesday, the PM Office said.

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan’s Parliament is expected to consider a resolution on Tuesday about whether the French envoy should be expelled over the publication of controversial cartoons depicting Islam’s Prophet, testing whether the government gives in to threats from radical Islamists.

Under the resolution, cases against Islamists over deadly anti-France protests would be withdrawn, the country’s interior minister said.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 19 (APP): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Monday met the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and discussed the enhancement of bilateral trade, investment in Pakistan especially in hospitality industry.

The meeting took place during the three-day visit of Foreign Minister Qureshi to the UAE started Sunday.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 19 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday said the collective voice of whole Muslim world and threat for trade boycott could put a stop to blasphemy as protest demonstrations would damage nothing but Pakistan’s booming economy.

(Reuters) --- Islamist radicals in Pakistan on Monday released 11 police abducted during violent anti-blasphemy protests against France over the weekend, the interior minister said as his government opened negotiations with the group after a week of violence.

All main businesses, markets and shopping malls and public transport were closed in major cities in response to a strike call by the Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), prompting the main KSE-100 stock index to open more than 500 points lower.

(Reuters) --- Police in Pakistan said a hardline Islamist group had taken six security personnel hostage at its headquarters in Lahore on Sunday after a week of violent clashes following the arrest of the group's leader.

Islamabad, Apr 18 (PTI) Pakistan on Sunday reported its highest single-day coronavirus spike this year with over 6,000 new cases and about 149 deaths, as the country struggled to speed up its vaccination programme.

The previous highest surge was recorded last year on June 20 when the country reported 6,825 infections and 153 deaths.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 17 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan Saturday called upon the Western governments to penalize those elements who had been deliberately spreading message of hate against Muslims by using the same standards with which they had outlawed any negative comments on holocaust.

The prime minister, on his twitter handle, also demanded an apology from those extremists in the West who under the garb of freedom of speech had hurt 1.3 billion Muslims by their blasphemous acts against the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

ISLAMABAD, Apr 16 (APP): Amnesty International in its latest report has highlighted the shrinking space for freedom of expression in India.

Indian authorities repressed dissent through unlawful restrictions on peaceful protestors and by silencing critics.

Human rights defenders, including students, academics, journalists, and artists, were arbitrarily arrested, often without charge or trial.