ISLAMABAD - Expressing deep concern over the killing of a Pakistani-origin family in Canada, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday said that the Western world needs to address the rising trend of Islamophobia attacks.
“This trend [Islamophobia attack] is on the rise in the West for some time...We are bringing global attention on it, as it is not individual acts,” said Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while giving a policy statement in the National Assembly. He made these remarks over the killing of four members of a Pakistani-origin family in Canada late [on Sunday evening].
Minister also urged the global community to properly pay heed to this matter. He said that the Western world may term it crazy or an individual man act but the trajectory reflects the rising trend of Islamophobia.
He avoided going deep into the incident saying that the autopsy report is still awaited.
Qureshi said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had already highlighted this serious matter and also tweeted about the recent incident.
“I have contacted Pakistan's Consul General in Ontario and the country's High Commissioner in Canada for information,” he said fearing that this rising trend may "start dividing the societies". “This trend [Islamophobia] needs to be addressed, as the situation could be worsened,” he remarked. He said that the Muslim Ummah should be "united and decide on a plan of action".
"If only Pakistan raises its voice, it will not be that effective so there is need taken up this matter,” he said mentioning that he had submitted a resolution on the instructions of PM Imran Khan during the 47th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Niamey, asking the body to "take up the problem with one voice".
Only faith-related hate can be seen in the incident that happened to them. The only sin of the family was that they were from a society and a religion that recite [the Kalima], he added. Qureshi said that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had tweeted about the incident and "adopted a clear stance which is encouraging". In his tweet, Trudeau had said he was "horrified" by the attack.
He also suggested Trudeau should meet the family of those killed, stating it would reassure them.
He also requested the Pakistani community in Canada to play their role and "express solidarity with the family and console them".
He further said that he had shared the "Pakistani nation's emotions and concerns" with Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Wendy Gilmour. PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal , on his turn, said that there was a need to call an international conference on Islamophobia . “This matter needs to be highlighted on a Parliamentary level,” he said.
Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser assured him to engage the Foreign Minister for calling a conference on the issue. Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari said that there was no need to give benefit of doubt on this tragic incident as it was ‘Islamophobia terrorism’. “Time has come to stop this terrorism,” she said.