ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly today passed a unanimous resolution condemning republication of the caricatures of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Sallalaho Alaih-e-Wassallam and desecration of the Holy Quran in Norway and Sweden.

The resolution moved by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi condemned the recent blasphemous acts by mischievous elements in some parts of the world.

It expressed serious concern at the highly disturbing statements and hate mongering, especially by leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron, justifying unlawful provocation and insult to the sentiments of more than a billion Muslims in the world under the under the garb of freedom of expression.

The House, unequivocally, condemned the practice of blasphemy ad of insulting the Prophet of Islam [Peace Be Upon Him], Christianity and Judaism alike. It also condemned all acts of terror or violence in the name of religion or belief.

The Resolution deplored equating of Islam and Muslims with terrorism, which goes against the international consensus and spirit of mutual respect and peaceful co-existence.

With the intention of effectively addressing the issue of Islamophobia, he House urged the government to recall its envoy from Paris and to work within the framework of Organization of Islamic Countries for designating 15th of March as the International Day to combat Islamophobia and ask the OIC countries to boycott French goods.

The National Assembly called on the Secretary General of the OIC to continue monitoring the phenomena of Islamophobia and take necessary actions for presenting Islamic countries' common position on the matter, especially the issue of blasphemous caricatures of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad [Peace Be Upon Him] and desecration of the Holy Quran.

It called upon all non-OIC countries to provide legal avenues to Muslims residing in their territories for redressal of their genuine grievances.

The House called on the UN Secretary General and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to immediately initiate a global dialogue for interfaith harmony and countering rising Islamophobia.

The House will now meet at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.