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PM rules out amendment to blasphmy law

ISLAMABAD — Prime Minsiter Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday reassured a convention of religious leaders and scholars here that the blasphemy law would not be amended but vowed that effective steps would be taken to curb its abuse.

Gilani said Islam was opposed to coercion and preached tolerance and compassion. Those who were inciting people in the name of religion were violating basic tenets of Quran and Sunnah.

The Pakistan premier urged religious leaders to propagate the true interpretation of Islam and educate people about its teachings of tolerance and mutual respect for each other’s beliefs and sensibilities.

He said incidents of violence against minorities malign Pakistan abroad and put lives of Pakistani compatriots in danger. 
Gilani said a committee was setup by the Pakistan People’s Party at the party level to see whether any legislation that is moved by its members has its endorsement. He said nobody should have any fear and apprehension that anything would be done contrary to Islam or its teachings by the present government.
Meanwhile in Lahore, religious groups and parties staged another big rally for protection of blasphemy laws.

The speakers iusing incendiary language lauded Mumtaz Qadri, the confessed killer of Governor Salmaan Taseer, and warned the courts of stiff reprisal if any order was passed against him.
Most shops and offices on city’s main boulevard The Mall were closed during the four hours the rally took to make its way from Data Darbar to the Governor’s House.
TNRM, a coalition of eight Sunni parties, organised the rally to pay tributes to the police guard who shot Taseer dead on January 4.

TNRM vice-president Dr Ashraf Jalali, who led the rally, told the participants that if Qadri was punished they would hold a long march to Islamabad and throw all those responsible for it out of their offices. Jalali also issued a warning to the media not to extend invitations to those who criticised Qadri or spoke in favour of amending the blasphemy laws. 
“Mumtaz Hussain Qadri is a hero of the Muslim ummah. Whoever criticises him or Section 295-C will have their tongues pulled out,” he added. 
Jalali praised the police deployed in front of the Governor’s House saying that Qadri’s act had lifted the status of the entire police force.

mafzalkhan@yahoo.com