LAHORE: Religious parties protested outside the Lahore Press Club on Tuesday as Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti said Pakistan would not repeal its controversial blasphemy law but might amend it to prevent abuse because scrapping the legislation could fuel militancy.
“(Repeal) is not being considered though we are considering changing it so that misuse of the law should be stopped,” Bhatti said. He said consultations with Islamic clerics and representatives of religious minorities on amending the law would soon be held. He said repealing it was not being considered because that could provoke religious parties and militants who want to topple the pro-US civilian government.
Referring to a Christian mother of five, Asiya Noreen, who was sentenced to death in a case stemming from a village dispute, the minister told Pakistan Today, “We can see what is happening only after Asiya is pardoned. Religious groups are already gathering at various places and putting pressure on the government. But we are trying bring amendments that will not harm or cause death penalties in personal vendetta.” Bhatti said parliament needed to have a majority to completely repeal the law, which was not possible at an immediate notice.
“We are trying to work it out through discussions and consultations, because this law is not just harmful for non-Muslims, even secular Muslims come under its influence.” Bhatti said an initial inquiry into the case of the Christian mother suggested she had not committed blasphemy but was falsely accused after a quarrel.
Asiya, the first woman sentenced to death in Pakistan for blasphemy, has appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari to pardon her.
“It will take few more days. We are looking into different things, not just pardon. She could get relief from the courts,” Bhatti said.
Meanwhile, in the protest outside the Lahore Press Club, the Almi Jamaat Ehl-e-Sunnat and the Sunni Tehreek protested against the government, saying it was not paying heed to their demands.
Speakers included Ehl-e-Sunnat head Peer Afzal Qadri, Information Secretary Shahid Gardezi and of Anjuman Asataza Punjab head Peer Atharul Qadri. Qadri said that the Punjab governor was an “infidel and should be hanged”. He said Salmaan Taseer was worthy of being killed because he had called the blasphemy law a ‘black law’. He said there was no room for any kind of change in a “holy law”.
