Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Pakistan: Rally warns against amendments to Blasphemy Law

---The News (Internet Edition), Pakistan
Monday, October 12, 2009,
Shawwal ul Mukkarram 22, 1430 A.H

Rally warns against amendments to Blasphemy Law

By our correspondent

Karachi

The government was warned by speakers a protest rally held on Sunday that any change in the Namoos-e-Risalat Act (Blasphemy Law) would be dealt with appropriately and the entire nation would march towards Islamabad and demand the immediate sacking of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer.

In this connection, they said that an Ulema Mashaikh conference was being convened which would draw up the future course of action.

The “Tahfuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalt” rally, organised by the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) started at the Noorani Chowk and culminated at Tibet Centre, and was led by its President Sahibzada Abul Khair, Chairman Tanzeemat-ul-Madaris Mufti Muneeb, Chairman Supreme Council, JUP, Mufti Jamil, and Ovais Noorani.

The entire route of the rally was heavily guarded by the police and Rangers, while roads leading towards the rally were barricaded with tankers and police vans.

The participants of the rally carried portraits of Allama Shah Ahmed Noorani and green flags with the Kalma inscribed on them, and raised slogans warning that any amendments to the Blasphemy Act were not acceptable.

Various resolutions were adopted on the occasion demanding of the government of Pakistan to immediately remove the Punjab Governor as well as Pakistan’s Ambassador to United States as they were playing into the hands of anti-Islam forces.

They rejected the repeal of the Qisas Law (elimination of death sentence). “It is a Quranic Law and any change amounts to defying Islam and a defiant person is condemned to the death penalty in Islamic law,” they said.

The participants vehemently rejected the Kerry-Lugar Bill, adding that persons who attacked the General Headquarters (GHQ) be brought to book and stern action be taken against them.

The speakers vehemently condemned the Punjab Governor, Salman Taseer, and demanded of the government to immediately remove him or else the people would force him to go back. They aired the same sentiments for Pakistan’s Ambassador to US, Hussain Haqqani, who, they said, had become more loyal to his US masters, and sarcastically referred to him as “His Master’s Voice”.

The speakers also saluted the armed forces role for criticising the Kerry-Lugar Bill and not following the precedent set by their predecessors who used to roll back the democratic government. In this relation, they extended support to the armed forces.

Anas Noorani, Chairman World Islamic Mission, stated that the US, through the Kerry-Lugar Bill wanted control the internal affairs of the country, capping of Nuclear programme of Pakistan, abolishing the death sentence, and effecting amendments to the Namoos-e-Risalt Bill, which, he said, is not acceptable.

The participants also condemned the Parliament and specifically the lady Speaker of the National Assembly who sent Namoos-e-Risalat Act to the standing committee for revision. —SB

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=202813
 
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