Prime Minister Imran Khan, in an exclusive interview with CBC’s chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton on Sunday, addressed Islamophobia and asked Western countries to take strict action to curb hate crimes against the Muslim community.

Khan said the use of the term “Islamic radicals” indicates there is something wrong with the religion which makes people radical. On the contrary, terrorism has no religion as extremists are found in every society, he added.

The premier said the use of terms Islamic extremism and Islamic radical started after the publication of Salman Rushdie’s book and then the 9/11 incident.

Responding to Barton's question on online criticism, the prime minister said:

"I think there should be very strict action against this. When there are these hate websites that create hatred amongst human beings, there should be an international action against them."

Khan's interview with the Canadian channel came after four members of a Pakistan-origin family in Ontario were killed last week, which has been declared a hate crime by the authorities.

“Everyone is shocked in [Pakistan] because we saw the family picture, and so a family being targeted like that has had a deep impact in Pakistan,” Prime Minister Khan said, adding, Pakistani Embassy [in Canada] is in touch with Pakistani community."

Responding to a question about Quebec's controversial secularism bill — which prohibits civil servants in positions of "authority" from wearing religious symbols at work — Khan said:

"I find this, you know. secular extremism...The whole idea behind secularism is liberalism. You want humans to basically be free to express themselves the way they want to. As long as it does not cause pain and hurt to other human beings. If someone wants to cover their hair, why it becomes such a huge issue."