President Asif Zardari on Thursday said the government is aware of the misuse of blasphemy law against minorities by vested interests and it will not permit the misuse of any law against vulnerable groups.
Addressing a reception at the Presidency held to mark National Minorities Day, Zardari called upon religious scholars from all schools of thought to get together and consider ways and means to stop the misuse of blasphemy law. “On this day we reaffirm that despite belonging to different faiths we are one nation and together we march for a prosperous Pakistan,” he said, adding that the government is committed to ensuring equal rights for all minority communities. “August 11 has a special significance in our national calendar as it was on this day in 1947 when the Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, made a historic speech in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan,” he said. The president underscored the need for removing distrust and misunderstandings among the followers of different religions. “There is an urgent need in the world today more than ever for removing distrust and misunderstandings among the followers of different religions,” he said.
“We all must work together to prove wrong those who predict clash of civilization,” he said. Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, diplomats, federal ministers and representatives of minorities, including Lahore Bishop Alexander John Malik and PPP minorities leader Napolean Qayyum, were also present on the occasion.
Govt will not allow misuse of blasphemy law: Zardari
