Saturday, February 25 2006 19:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan has decided to raise the cartoon issue at the United Nations, President Pervez Musharraf said today (Feb 25 2006).

"The government has issued directives to Pakistan's permanent representative at the United Nations Munir Akram for moving the issue at the UN," President Musharraf told a meeting of Islamic scholars at the presidential camp office in Rawalpindi.

"Muslims around the world have protested vehemently against the offending sketches," Musharraf said, adding that no blasphemous attitude against the Holy Prophet could be permitted in the name of freedom of expression.

He said the government would not allow burning of public property in the pretext of protest against the drawings, adding the cartoon issue should not be politicised.

"President Musharraf condemned publication of the blasphemous caricatures and said that the government has denounced the act at every forum and was taking the issue in the OIC," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid told 'Geo News' after the meeting.