Apparently, the good minister does not consider this nor this nor this to be stark contradictions to his bold statement. But of course! Violations of Pakistan's notorious blasphemy laws are punishable just as violations of laws are in any other "democratic" nation. From the Online - International News Network:
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has underlined Islamabad’s participation in the Commonwealth platform after six-long years is a testimony that democracy in Pakistan has taken roots."In Pakistan there is complete freedom of speech and expression," Shaukat Aziz expressed these views while talking at a press conference at the occasion of heads of the Commonwealth states moot on Saturday.
"There should have no suspicion in one’s mind about democracy in Pakistan, press enjoy unprecedented freedom, opposition has the right of criticism and over 25 private TV channels are currently operational in Pakistan," he argued.
"We are desirous of cordial relations with neighbours, however Pakistan and India after resolving decade-old Kashmir saga can establish eternal peace in the region," he noted.
He expressed optimism that they could settle host of issues from the platform of Commonwealth and this forum was key to bolster the living standard of millions of people.
The Commonwealth states had acknowledged steps taken for establishment of democracy in Pakistan and after six long years Pakistan was present there, he recalled.
"In Pakistan,there is freedom of speech and expression" says the Prime minister of Pakistan. The suffering minorities of Pakistan -christians,hindus,sikhs,ismailies,and shias will tell you how far it is true. Thousands of voiceless native christians are chased out of their villages,in which they were living since partition of India and pakistan.Recently ,when Presdent Musaraf was begging the mostly christian western countries to help in billions of dollors to the earth quake victims,these native chritians ,who alos suffered,were neglected,and chased out of their villages,their churches burnt. So far for the freedom. Muslims will enjoy freedom of speech,religion,everything in non-muslim countires. But when it comes to the islamic countries. their Koran directs them to treat non-muslims as dirt;tax them with jiziya and humiliate them.Even killing a kafir(non-muslim) is not a sin.
Recently,the one and only non-muslim(christian) cricket player by name Yousuf Yuohana, in the pakistan cricket team has to convert into islam,and change his name as Mohamed yousuf due to the sheer harasment of this ace cricketer .When ever he comes to play to the ground,these guys used to shout 'Bhangi aagya hai'(untouchable has come).Since he is the only one in the team,with no support whatever from the team,public,or government,was forced to join the crowd, change his religion. Eighter the minority chirstian community,nor the parents of this talented young player have NO VOICE in this matter.
""In Pakistan there is complete freedom of speech and expression," edit add, except when it comes to religion.
The above statement is typical kitman,lying by ommission. "Freedom of political expression, but not religious".
The craziness is this: it takes a click or two to disprove the statement. Why is such a thing said? What complete contempt for the Infidels, to think they have no way to find out about the punishment for blasphemy, up to and including the death penalty, that surely suggests there is about Islam no freedom of expression whatsoever. What can one, Muslim or non-Muslim, truthfully say about Islam in Pakistan, without being punished? What?
There is ALWAYS complete freedom of speech in muslim lands, as long as you say what the islamists want you to say. Seems pretty simple to me.
It so happens that this is the same type of freedom employed by the American liberal movement, except that the liberals wont blow you up. Not yet at least.
"In Pakistan, there is freedom of speech and expression..."
...unless you're a woman.
Incessant comments on the sins of "right-wingers" or of "liberals" have got to stop. The appearance of such off-the-topic score-settling will from now on lead to a sudden and unexplained disappearance of not merely the offending comment, but the possibility of the commenter making any comment whatsoever, even a perfectly reasonable one. This is not public property where anyone can say what he feels like. It is akin to a lecture hall, where comments and questions -- if relevant, but only if relevant -- can be made. But if they get in the way of the pedagogic mission then there will be some cutting. But no running.
So Democracy has taken root in Pakistan! Trouble is there is a canker eating away at those roots called - Islam. A few applications of Sharia Law and this fragile plant is DEAD.
Freedom of speech in Pakistan, yeah right - tell that to Daniel Scot's Christian relative who was found with multiple bullet wounds, his body ripped and torn apart, and what was left found in a ditch.
His crime? He was a Christian preacher in an Islamic Land. Thats the "Religion of Peace" in action for you folks.
It's funny how Muslims in the West tell us, being , miles and miles away from the heart of Islam (Saudi Arabia) tell us that such deeds are not "Islamic".
Yet as we travel closer and closer to the heart of Islam, the brutality seems to get worse and worse (that is with exception, especially if you are little unarmed Christian school girls living in a neighbourhood full of head chopping brave Jihadi's - who like sawing off little girls heads).
- as in School girls in Indonesia
Wait a minute, I figured it out by jove! You are free to say what you like in Pakistan, as long as you are also willing to have your head blown off if the comments are deemed unacceptable.
Figuring out what is 'unacceptable'...now there is the trick.
Who is kidding whom here----
"In Pakistan,there is freedom of speech and expression" says the Prime minister of Pakistan"
Try saying "that the Koran is NOT divinely inspired" or that Mohamed was a terrorist
or anything against a Mohammedan in Pakistan .They will haul you off to jail under the Blasphemy laws and the penalty is death. Freedom of speech my A##E
Pakistan has one of the worst records of human rights in any nation. Period.
There is freedom of speech in Pakistan:
You can say that some Christians desecrated a Coran.
There is freedom of expression:
You can shout: "Blasphemy!" and raise a mob to kill the Cristians and burn and loot their houses and get away with it.
Such freedoms! Such nice people!
Such a darn nice religion!
complete bullshit.
#1 Rafia
You forgot to mention that Yousuf Yohanna's wife was being ostracised by the wives of the other cricketers because she was a Christian.
Such a peaceful religion!
Islam foster the most bigoted and intolerant people on earth: Muslims. The minister probably said this with a straight face as he's had plenty of practice lying...