Aamir Latif
09 June 2021•Update: 09 June 2021
KARACHI, Pakistan
Pakistan’s foreign minister on Wednesday spoke over the phone with his Canadian counterpart Marc Garneau to discuss the recent “Islamophobic” attack on a Muslim family in London, Ontario.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi, according to a statement, stated that the Islamophobic attack is a matter of serious concern and has caused anguish among Muslims worldwide.
Four members of a Muslim family went out for a Sunday evening walk and died when a man deliberately drove his half-ton truck into them on Monday.
Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna Afzaal and Salman Afzaal's 74-year-old mother, Talat, were killed, while Fayez Afzaal remains hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Police say the 20-year-old driver was motivated by hate.
Qureshi appreciated that the Canadian government, civil society, media, and general public have extended support to the family of the victims in this hour of grief.
He particularly lauded a strong condemnatory statement issued by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who termed this attack as Islamophobic.
He expressed hope that the perpetrator of the crime would be brought to justice.
Qureshi briefed his Canadian counterpart on the efforts undertaken by Pakistan to raise awareness and to curtail the growing Islamophobic tendencies.
He underscored that the intentional community must show a common resolve against the rising trend of Islamophobia and promote peaceful coexistence and interfaith harmony.
The two foreign ministers agreed to work together on countering Islamophobia through coordinated efforts at various international fora and agreed to instruct their Permanent Representatives in New York to work together in this regard, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry statement.
