United Nations, Sep 26: Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday appealed to the international community to not become “silent observers”, and immediately take notice of the anti-islam movie, insisting such acts be declared a crime.
In his speech at the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the president said: “Before I take up my speech, I want to express the strongest condemnation for the acts of incitement of hate against the faith of billions of Muslims of the world and our beloved prophet, Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him).”
Condemning the controversial movie that has sparked angry protests across the Muslim world, President Zardari said: “The International community must not become silent observers and should criminalise such acts that destroy the peace of the world and endanger world security by misusing freedom of expression.
“Pakistan moves the United Nations to immediately address in earnest this alarming concern and the widening rift to enable the comity of nations to be one again,” he said.
“I am not here to answer questions about Pakistan. I am here to ask some questions on behalf of my people,” Zardari said.
“On behalf the two year old baby who was killed in the bombing at Lahore's Moon Market on December 7, 2009… On behalf of the traders and entrepreneurs in Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore and Karachi, of the dozens of marketplaces that have been ravaged by multiple bombings. Over and over and over again. And perhaps most of all, on behalf of my three children, whose mother [Benazir Bhutto] was also martyred by terrorists…
“[I ask] How much more suffering can Pakistan endure?”
Zardari said that terrorism and extremism had not only destroyed human lives, torn social fabric, and devastated the economy of Pakistan but the rest of the world.
“Our economy, our lives, our ability to live… have been challenged. Globally, we face enormous challenges,” he conceded. “Our condition today is a product of dictatorships.”
Saying that no country and no people had suffered more in the epic struggle against terrorism than Pakistan, the president said that drone strikes and civilian casualties have continued to add to the complexity of this war.
Rebutting critics and constant demands to do more, he said: “To those who say we have not done enough, I say in all humility: Please do not insult the memory of our dead, and the pain of our living. Do not ask of my people, what no one has ever asked of any other peoples. Do not demonise the innocent women and children of Pakistan.”
