ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged world leaders to take strict action against online hate and extremism following the deadly truck attack in Ontario that targeted members of a Pakistan-origin family.
In an interview with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the Prime Minister said, “Everyone is shocked in Pakistan, because we saw the family picture, and so a family being targeted like that has had a deep impact in Pakistan.”
The premier said the recent pattern of domestic terror in Western countries demanded a heightened focus on online radicalization. “When there are these hate websites which create hatred amongst human beings, there should be an international action against them,” he added.
PM Imran pointed out that he had raised the issue of online hate with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he described as someone that “understands the importance of fighting online hate and Islamophobia”. “The world leaders, whenever they decide upon taking action, this will be dealt with,” he added.
“The problem is at the moment, there is not enough motivation and that some international leaders, or leaders in the Western countries, actually don’t understand this phenomenon,” he added.
Referring to the Canadian laws, PM Imran said that he “mostly agrees” with Trudeau and his stance on extremism, but he is concerned about some Canadian laws that he believed contributed to Islamophobia.
“You want humans to basically be free to express the way they want to be, as long as it doesn’t cause pain and hurt to other human beings,” the Prime Minister concluded.
On June 6, a Canadian Muslim family of Pakistani-origin lost members from three generations after it was targeted in a “religiously motivated” attack. A pick-up truck ran over them in the south of Canada’s Ontario province while they were waiting on the sidewalk to cross the road. Police said the family fell prey for being Muslim and the attack appeared to be a “premeditated” one.
