Religious parties protest against amending blasphemy laws

	Saturday, December 25, 2010, Muharram 18, 1432 A.H.
National
Religious parties protest against amending blasphemy laws

Saturday, December 25, 2010

By Asim Hussain

LAHORE: Various religious parties and groups observed a protest day by holding rallies and protests after the Friday prayers to condemn what they called was a West-backed conspiracy to amend the blasphemy laws, being carried out by Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, Supreme Court Bar President Asma Jahangir, secular lobbies and NGOs.

Charged crowds of religious workers and leaders took to the streets following the Friday prayers while prayer leaders, addressing the congregations, warned against any move to amend the blasphemy laws or to pardon the convicted woman under the Western pressure.

They particularly condemned Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer for his attempts to motivate parliament for amending the blasphemy laws. Prominent protests were staged by Tehrik Hurmat Rasool (THR) at Chaowburji Chowk, Muttahida Tehrik Khatm-e-Nabuwwat Rabita Committee (MTKNRC) at Wahdat Road, Tahaffuz Namoos Risalat Mahaz (TNRM) at Garhi Shahu while JUP-led Tehrik-e-Namoos-e-Risalat took out a rally from Masjid-e-Shuhada at The Mall to Punjab Assembly.

Our correspondent adds from Peshawar: Former chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad has appealed to traders, transporters and common people to observe a complete strike on December 31 against the proposed changes in the blasphemy law so that nobody could dare amend it.

Speaking at a press conference here on Friday, he said that upholding the honour of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was part of the faith of every Muslim. The punishment for blasphemer is death and nobody can change or amend it, he said, adding that the accused should be given a chance to clarify his position, but a convict would be given the capital punishment.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=22146&Cat=2

Pakistan to review blasphemy laws, official says

Pakistan to review blasphemy laws, official says

By Nasir Habib, CNN
December 24, 2010 — Updated 1031 GMT (1831 HKT)

Asia Bibi, a Christian, was sentenced to death for blasphemy of Islam — judicial proceedings could take years.

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) – Pakistan will review blasphemy laws to prevent them from targeting innocent people, a government official said.

The government will form a committee of scholars to revisit the law, said Shahbaz Bhatti, the federal minister for minority affairs.

It will submit its suggestions and procedures, which will be implemented to stop the law’s misuse, the minister said Thursday.

“After the formation of the committee we will …. find the way that whether through the legislation or some other procedural way we can stop the blasphemy law,” Bhatti said.

On pardoning of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy of Islam, Bhatti said the president will wait for the judicial proceedings.

Bibi’s lawyer has said that the proceedings might take years because the case is still in high court and may later go to the Supreme court.

Religious parties are planning protests after Friday prayers. The parties have been upset since the governor of Punjab province helped file a mercy petition with President Asif Ali Zardari’s office requesting a pardon for Bibi.

Parties including the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal ur Rehman (JUI-F) party will hold the rallies on Christmas Eve, said Moulana Amjad Khan, party spokesman.

A Pakistani court in November found the 45-year-old woman guilty of defiling the name of the Prophet Mohammed during a 2009 argument with Muslim fellow field workers.

The offense is punishable by death or life imprisonment, according to Pakistan’s penal code.

But an investigation by a Pakistani government ministry found the charges stemmed from “religious and personal enmity” and recommended Bibi’s release. Zardari has said he would pardon Bibi, but a court has ruled that the president can’t act until the sentence is confirmed by a higher court – a process her lawyer says could take two to three years.

About 2 million Christians live in Pakistan. The Islamic nation has a population of about 170 million, according to government statistics as religious parties plan Friday rallies to protest possible changes.

© 2010 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
URL: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/12/24/pakistan...laws/?hpt=T2

Pakistan parties protest possible blasphemy law changes

Pakistan parties protest possible blasphemy law changes

By Nasir Habib, CNN
December 23, 2010 -- Updated 0941 GMT (1741 HKT)

Pakistani women of the fundamentalist Jamaat-i-Islami party march against Asia Bibi on December 9.

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) – Pakistan’s religious parties are planning protests this week against any attempts to change the nation’s blasphemy laws, a party spokesman said Thursday.

Moulana Amjad Khan, spokesman for the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal ur Rehman (JUI-F) party, said the JUI-F and other religious parties are going to hold the rallies on December 24.

JUI-F recently left the collation government led by President Asif Ali Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party.

Religious parties have been upset since the governor of Punjab province, Salman Taseer, helped file a mercy petition with Zardari’s office, requesting a pardon for Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced for death for blasphemy.

In November, a Pakistani court found the 45-year-old Bibi guilty of defiling the name of the Prophet Mohammed during a 2009 argument with Muslim fellow field workers. The offense is punishable by death or life imprisonment, according to Pakistan’s penal code.

But an investigation by a Pakistani government ministry found the charges stemmed from “religious and personal enmity” and recommended Bibi’s release. Zardari has said he would pardon Bibi, but a court has ruled that the president can’t act until the sentence is confirmed by a higher court – a process her lawyer says could take two to three years.

A Pakistani cleric is offering a nearly $6,000 bounty for anyone killing Bibi.

Moulana Yousaf Qureshi made his announcement in early December, condemning any effort by Zardari to pardon or release her.

“I will pay 500,000 rupees for the loyal follower of Muhammad who beheads Asia Bibi,” Qureshi told a crowd of several hundred people. The amount is equivalent to about $5,800, or more than six times the country’s average annual wage.

About 2 million Christians live in Pakistan, making up slightly over 1 percent of the officially Islamic nation’s population of about 170 million, according to government statistics.

© 2010 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

URL: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asia...protest/?iref=obinsite

Religious groups join hands over blasphemy law

	Wednesday, December 22, 2010, Muharram 16, 1432 A.H.
Karachi
Religious groups join hands over blasphemy law

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

By Shamim Bano
Karachi

In an unprecedented move, all religious parties belonging to different sects have joined hands against calls for the repeal of the blasphemy law, supporting the countrywide shutter-down strike call of the Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-Risalat on December 31.

During a joint press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday, leaders of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Paksitan, Jamat Ahle Sunnat and Shia leaders announced their multi-phase campaign against the proposed repeal of the blasphemy law.

On December 24, protests will be staged outside different mosques of the city after Friday prayers. On December 31, a shutter-down strike will be observed while a public rally will be taken out on January 9.

Religious groups have approached different political parties, including those sitting in the corridors of power, to support their drive.

They have appealed to transporters, industrialists and shopkeepers to shut their businesses to make the strike call a success and to “show the entire anti-Islamic world that any change in the law is not tolerable”.

The leaders also demanded immediate sacking of the Punjab governor and withdrawal of the bill presented in parliament by former information minister Sherry Rehman.

Those who spoke during the press conference included Qari Mohammed Usman of the JUI-F, Shabbir Abu Talib of the JUP, Mufti Mohammed Usman Yar Khan of the JUI-S, Nasrullah Shaji of the JI and Qazi Ahmed Noorani.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=21541&Cat=4

TNR moot announces countrywide strike on 31st

Thursday, December 16, 2010

TNR moot announces countrywide strike on 31st

Published December 16, 2010

ISLAMABAD – All Parties Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat (TNR) Conference on Wednesday unanimously announced to launch a nationwide strike on December 31 besides other schedule for launching a movement for what it termed protecting the sanctity of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who is also heading the conference, announced this decision in the presence of three banned outfits’ leaders including Hafiz Saeed Ahmed of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Maulana Hafiz Ludhyanavi of Sapah-e-Sabaha and Allama Sajid Naqvi of Tehreek-e-Jafria Pakistan, who participated the APC.

Almi Majlis Tahafuz-e-Khatam-e-Nabuwat organised the conference, which was attended by many religious leaders different schools of thoughts from all provinces and FATA along with politicians and people from different walks of life.

The participant at one time took the gathering as revival of Mutthahida Mjlis-e-Amal (MMA) when Qazi Hussain Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) said that he endorsed the recommendations of the conference from the platform of MMA. But at the end of the conference, JI Amir Syed Munawar Hassan, while ruling out any such possibility, said that the APC had announced its further agenda and if there is any development, it would also be announced.

Fazlur Rehman while announcing the nationwide movement said that all religious parties would hold a nationwide wheel-jam strike on December 31 while protests would be held at mosque levels all over the country on December 24. “A grand procession as well as protest will also be held in this regard on January 9 and a subsequent strategy would be announced after consultation with the Central Committee”, he added.

While talking on behalf of the participating parties, he reiterated his resolve that they are ready to render every sacrifice to protect the sanctity of the Prophets and would fight this war at every forum.

Maulana Fazl said that they would resist every effort if the new Bill was brought on the floor of the Parliament for bringing changes in the blasphemy laws. He said that the government should clear its position on the issue adding that international pressure was tantamount to meddling into the internal affairs of the country.

URL: www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-...-countrywide-strike-on-31st

Changes in blasphemy law

	Thursday, December 16, 2010, Muharram 09, 1432 A.H.
Changes in blasphemy law

Thursday, December 16, 2010
By our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: An All Parties Conference (APC), held under the aegis of the Aalmi Majlis-e-Tahaffuz Khatam-e-Nabuwwat, held here on Wednesday gave a call for a countrywide shutterdown on December 31 against efforts to change the blasphemy law.

“The APC has categorically decided that any effort to repeal or weaken the blasphemy law will not be tolerated and Namoos-e-Risalat will be protected at all costs,” JUI-F Amir Maulana Fazlur Rehman said while addressing a press conference after chairing the APC.

Besides others, the APC was attended by ex-Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Amir Qazi Hussain Ahmad, PML-Q chief Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Allama Sajid Naqvi and Abul Khair Zubair.Qazi Hussain Ahmad and Chaudhry Shujaat strongly condemned the moves to try to make the blasphemy laws controversial. “All such attempts will be foiled with full force,” they said.

The speakers warned the government and its parliamentarians to refrain from making efforts to review or repeal the blasphemy law or encouraging those involved in blasphemous acts. “The government cannot dare to table any bill to amend the blasphemy law,” they said.

Asked as to how they would oppose any amendment in the blasphemy law in parliament, Fazlur Rehman emphatically said that nobody could dare speak on this issue on the floors of the two houses. He asked the government to clarify its position on the blasphemy law or get ready for humiliation.

Announcing the protest programme, he said countrywide demonstrations would be organised after Friday prayers on December 24 and shutterdown would be observed on December 31. A big public meeting would be addressed by central leadership of the APC on January 09.

The All Parties Conference also constituted a committee, headed by Sahibzada Abul Khair Zubair of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan, to organise the movement all over the country. However, Fazlur Rehman said the future plan of action would be chalked out after consulting heads of all the religious parties. The committee would activate and organise moves from local to central levels.

Fazlur Rehman said in a country of 170 million people, every citizen enjoys freedom but the Western civilization had no place here. He called upon the traders’ community and shopkeepers to respond to the strike call with Islamic and national spirit. He declined to comment on the revival of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).

INP adds: Maulana Fazlur Rehman said a big public meeting and protest demonstration would be held in Karachi on January 9, which will be attended by all the central leaders of the religious parties.

He said Dr Abul Khair Mohammad Zubair had been made chairman of Tehrik-e-Namoos-e-Risalat. The Tehrik will form sub-committees to organise the Tehrik at grassroot level. Fazl said they wanted to send a message to the world that the entire nation was united over the protection of “Namoos-e-Risalat”.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=2696&Cat=13

Tahaffuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat

	Monday, December 13, 2010 Muharram 07, 1432 A.H.
Tahaffuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat

Monday, December 13, 2010
News Desk

RAWALPINDI: Major religious parties of the country have announced to launch a campaign for upholding the sanctity of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) against the proposed against the proposed amendment in the blasphemy act, Geo News reported on Sunday.

This was decided in a meeting of religious parties convened by the Markazi Jamaat Ahle Sunnat here. Syed Munawar Hassan, Qazi Hussain Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami, Maulana Fazlur Rehman of JUI-F, Allama Sajid Naqvi, Professor Sajid, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, Sahibzada Abulkhair Muhammad Zubair, Pir Atiqur Rehman and other religious leaders participated in the meeting.

They announced for launching the campaign in a joint press conference after the meeting. A seven-member committee was also constituted to chalk out a strategy for holding meetings, processions, wheel-jam strikes and a sit-in outside parliament. The committee will meet on Dec 15 in Islamabad.

The participants stated that the only punishment for blasphemy was capital punishment, adding that no one had the right to amend this law. They further said that the private member bill by Sherry Rehman and measures of the Punjab governor reflected the American agenda.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=2636&Cat=13