Pakistan contacts Dutch govt over blasphemous sketches issue: FO

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Pakistan has contacted the Dutch government regarding the blasphemous sketches issue, said Foreign Office Spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal on Tuesday. He said that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has raised the issue with his Dutch counterpart, saying that the Dutch parliamentarians’ hateful steps will hurt the sentiments of the Muslims across the world. Earlier addressing the Senate, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Pakistan wished for better relations with the United States. “The conversation between PM Imran and Pompeo was cordial and constructive in nature,” the foreign minister said. Qureshi said that the matter of blasphemous caricatures will be taken up with the OIC and the United Nations. The foreign minister told the Senate that the conversation between Imran and Pompeo had been cordial. He said the US State Department read-out regarding the phone call was contrary to facts. He said the press release issued by Pakistan on the conversation was factual. About a caricatures competition proposed to be held in the Netherland, Qureshi said the matter will be raised with the Organization of Islamic Conference and at the UN. The foreign minister pointed out that national security and foreign policy were linked. Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to congratulate the former on assuming the charge of his office. The FO spokesman said that Pakistan wants to further promote bilateral relations. He said that the British HC had stressed to enhance bilateral economic, trade and public relations.