No intention to recognise Israel, says PM Hafiz Ashrafi aide

ISLAMABAD: According to Hafiz Ashrafi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for the Middle East and Religious Affairs, the government has no intention of accepting Israel and is willing to stand by both the persecuted Palestinians and Kashmiris.

Hafiz Ashrafi, president of the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC), told the media on Wednesday that the prime minister had recently claimed that the country was under pressure to recognise Israel, but expressed his commitment that “Islamabad will not compromise on the rights of fellow Muslims.”

The Special Assistant recalled in response to a query that Riyadh had already dismissed rumours of a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Israeli prime minister. “Prime Minister Imran Khan has made it clear that Pakistan is not going to recognise Israel, and Saudi Arabia has a similar position on Palestinian issues.”

The SAPM said it had recently addressed with Dr Shireen Mazari, the federal Minister for Human Rights, the problems of forced conversion by marriage and the violation of blasphemy laws.

Saudi Arabia has dismissed rumours of meetings between the Crown Prince and Israel’s premier, Ashrafi points out.

 

Hafiz Ashrafi added that the violation of section 295-C of the penal code, which applies to blasphemy, had fallen dramatically in the recent past.

 

“Those who, under cover of blasphemy laws, try to push their personal agenda are sincere neither to Islam nor to Pakistan,” he noted. “We will not allow the law to be misused by anyone.”

He admitted that, due to the inability of the state to ensure the rule of law, the abuse of blasphemy law and forced conversions took place.

 

“We are taking steps to ensure that all religious minorities are protected as the State is responsible for protecting every person’s rights.”

 

The Constitution was the best guarantor of the rights of any Muslim as well as non-Muslim living in the country, Hafiz Ashrafi said.

“He said, “Islam does not encourage us to coerce non-Muslims into being Muslim. “And an undignified act is forced conversion through marriage.”

 

He said the Ministry of Human Rights is working on a mechanism to eradicate the fear of forced marriage among non-Muslims.

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“At the grassroots level, efforts are being made to create inter-faith and inter-religious harmony by establishing councils.”