Prime Minister Imran Khan has welcomed the statement of Russian President Vladimir Putin against Islamophobia.

In a message on Twitter on Friday, the prime minister said: "I welcome President Putin's statement which reaffirms my message that insulting our Holy Prophet (PBUH) is not 'freedom of expression'. We Muslims, especially Muslim leaders, must spread this message to leaders of the non-Muslim world to counter Islamophobia."

Meanwhile, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman has also welcomed the statement of Russian President Vladimir Putin in which he stated that insulting Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) does not count as freedom of expression. "It is endorsement of the stance of the Islamic world that sanctity of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) is universal. At this, we pay a tribute to Putin," he added.