On April 13, 2024, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Seerat Museum, which is being built with Saudi aid in Islamabad to spread the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and counter Islamophobia worldwide. The expression "Seerat" refers to the life of Muhammad, the founder of Islam.
According to a report in the Urdu daily Roznama Express, Shehbaz Sharif said: "During the past few decades, an ideological clash was created due to the war for occupation of [natural] resources. Negative propaganda is spread about Muslims. The Seerat Museum can perform an important service from two perspectives: non-Muslims will be able to know the story of the great personality [of Muhammad]."[1]
The website of Roznama Express also published a report, titled "Pakistan Is Ready To Help The Oppressed Palestinians At All Levels – Prime Minister," according to which Prime Minister Sharif expressed support for Palestinians. Sharif was in Saudi Arabia, where he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during April 6-8, 2024.
Prime Minister Sharif was a chief guest at the Seerat Museum ground-breaking ceremony.
Following are translated excerpts from the Urdu-language report:[2]
"Palestinians Are Victims Of Israeli Aggression [And] Are Caught In Problems With Which Pakistan Is Ready To Help At All Levels"
"Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Palestinians are victims of Israeli aggression [and] are caught in problems with which Pakistan is ready to help at all levels. Speaking at the foundation stone ceremony for the Seerat Museum in Islamabad, the prime minister said that the Custodian of the Holy Mosques [i.e., Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud] and the Saudi Crown Prince [Mohammed bin Salman] have played an important role in the construction of this museum, for which I am grateful to them.
"He expressed hope and prayed that this museum will emerge as a strong voice against the propaganda happening against Islamophobia and will also fully counter ideological differences and propaganda against Muslims.
"Explaining the aims and goals of the museum, Shehbaz Sharif said that 'Seerat Museum will play an important role in ending the impure propaganda of Islamophobia because negative propaganda has been going on globally about Islam and Muslims for the last few decades. The establishment of the Seerat Museum is a great project that will fully respond to the negative propaganda.'
"Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League [Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Issa] on his arrival in Pakistan and welcomed him on behalf of the government and the people.
A screenshot of the news report published by Express.pk
"Palestinians Are Suffering Under Israeli Barbarism"
"He said that Palestinians are suffering under Israeli barbarism and facing severe problems for which the Muslim World League is working on a large scale. He assured attendants that Pakistan is ready to help the oppressed Palestinians caught in problems at all levels.
"The prime minister said that the Saudi Crown Prince has immense love for Pakistan, which he expressed during [Sharif's] recent visit [to Saudi Arabia]. The sentiments and special attention of the Saudi leadership is a valuable asset for Pakistan. Mohammed bin Salman himself said: Pakistan is very close to our heart. Sharif said that Saudi Arabia has always stood by Pakistan in good and bad times and assists us wholeheartedly in difficult times.
"He further said that on the recent visit the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman assured that Saudi Arabia will never leave Pakistan alone because Saudi Arabia has immense sentiments of love for Pakistan and its people. Shehbaz Sharif said that very soon a high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia will visit Pakistan, which will open new avenues of relations between the two countries."
