Blasphemy laws will not be amended: Malik

KARACHI – Interior Minister Rehman Malik assured religious scholars on Saturday that blasphemy laws would not be amended, while the clerics demanded that the government form a 10-member committee to resolve the blasphemy law issue. Malik gave the assurance during a meeting with leaders of religious parties, including Shah Turabul Haq, Sarwat Ejaz Qadri, Kaukab Noorani and Allama Abbas Kumaili, as well as Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad at the Governor’s House.
“The committee formed under Federal Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti to amend blasphemy laws is unconstitutional. If such a committee with constitutional powers is formed, no changes to the blasphemy laws would be made and the committee itself would be abolished.”
Sources claimed that Malik recommended issuing a statement to clarify the government’s position as approved by the religious parties, but such the suggestion was rejected by the leaders of religious parties. While talking to journalists at the Karachi airport, Malik condemned the killings in the metropolis, saying that the country could not afford further bloodshed.
He said that controversies were being hatched for damaging the relationship between the political parties. A judicial commission has been constituted to investigate the killing of Geo reporter Wali Khan Babar and his murderers would be arrested soon, he said.
Malik meets Fazl: Days after media reports said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had nominated Attaur Rehman of the JUI-F as member of the parliamentary committee for constitution of the Election Commission of Pakistan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday held a meeting with JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad. A source in the JUI-F told Pakistan Today that both leaders discussed the political scenario as well as the situation in Karachi. He said the meeting also discussed the political developments after the JUI-F quit the PPP-led government at the centre.