Thursday, 20 January 2011 - Strasbourg

Debate:

Pino Arlacchi (S&D) - Mr President, just a few words of criticism on the way some sections of the European public and also some sections of this Parliament are treating Pakistan and its fight against terrorism.

I see too many Pakistan-bashing exercises and I see a disregard of the effort that the Pakistan Government and civil society are making against extremism. It should be very clear to everybody that 90% or more of Pakistani people are against terrorism and that they are paying a very high price for this.

The death of Governor Salmaan Taseer has been condemned by an overwhelming majority of the people, and also by the most prominent religious scholars. Moderate Muslims and all Government authorities have also suffered a great loss and that should be fully recognised by everybody.

[source: www.europarl.europa.eu]