LAHORE – The federal government has no intention to change the blasphemy law, Punjab Governor Latif Khosa said on Thursday. He made these remarks while visiting the Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) headquarters at Mansoora.
“On behalf of the federal government, let me categorically state that we had never planned to change the blasphemy law and will also not do so in the future. Any change is absolutely out of question. We will fight to protect honour of our Holy Prophet (PBUH),” the governor said in a joint press conference after meeting the JI’s top brass.
Earlier, JI Secretary General Liaqat Baloch, Farid Paracha, Amirul Azeem and others welcomed Khosa on his arrival at their headquarters. Punjab Senior Minister Raja Riaz, Punjab Labour Minister Ashraf Sohna, Punjab IT Minister Farooq Yousaf Ghurki and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Al Haaj Mian Azizur Rehman Chan accompanied the governor.
Khosa visited Mansoora in backdrop of a protest call given by the Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-Risalat (TNR) on January 30 in Lahore against efforts for changes in the blasphemy laws. The governor dispelled the impression that the federal government had formed any committee for change in the blasphemy law.
“Only Federal Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti had established a fact-finding committee on his own to probe into the Aasia Bibi case. There is no other committee and this is the fact,” Khosa said. JI chief Munawar Hassan told journalists that his party is always open to reconciliatory efforts that could translate into welfare of the people.
“We expressed our reservations during the meeting. Khosa was told that without a clear-cut state policy regarding the blasphemy law, a trust deficit will remain,” Hassan said. To end the uneasiness and trust deficit, the PM should give a clear-cut policy statement for not changing the law on floor of the House”, the JI chief said.
Hassan urged the federal government to reject Pope Benedict XVI’s and European parliament’s positions on the blasphemy law, as it is a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty. He criticised the US for offering Aasia Bibi asylum, as she is convicted by the court.
The JI chief accepted the governor’s invitation to visit the Governor’s House but said that schedule of the visit would be announced later.
