Danish envoy summoned over blasphemous cartoons

ISLAMABAD—The Danish Charge d’ Affairs on Tuesday was called to the Foreign Office by Akbar Zeb, Additional Secretary (Europe) to lodge a strong protest over the re-publication of the blasphemous cartoons in Denmark. The Additional Secretary said the re-publication of the cartoons had deeply offended Muslim feelings and sentiments all over the world.
“While we upheld freedom of the press, freedom of expression should not be taken as a license to insult and malign other religions,” he said according to a statement of the foreign office.
In fact, the publication of the cartoons was an abuse and perversion of freedom of expression, which showed disrespect for the believes of other people, the statement said. The Additional Secretary underlined that the publication of the cartoons was counter to the efforts of countries and people who wished to build bridges amongst civilizations.
Since hurting sentiments of other religions was not responsible behaviour, the Danish Government was obliged as a responsible government to stop the publication of the cartoons, he said.—Agencies