Punjab governor rules out change in blasphemy law

	Friday, January 28, 2011, Safar 23, 1432 A.H.
National
Punjab governor rules out change in blasphemy law

By our correspondent
Friday, January 28, 2011

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khosa has ruled out an amendment to the blasphemy law and asserted that no such plan is under consideration.

Talking to the media after meeting JI Ameer Syed Munawwar Hasan at Mansoorah on Thursday, Khosa dispelled the impression that the PPP was amending the blasphemy law. He said the government had no such plan and asserted that the PPP would defend the Namoos-e-Risalat till the last drop of blood.

He clarified that the fact-finding committee, constituted by President Asif Ali Zardari, was merely aimed at stopping the path of any bill by any member on the private member’s day in the National Assembly.

The governor said he had come to meet the JI leadership in pursuance of the PPP’s policy of national reconciliation, adding that he had also invited Syed Munawwar Hasan to visit the Governor’s House.

Munawwar Hasan demanded the government to take notice of statements by the US government and Pope Benedict XVI on granting pardon to Asia Bibi and the government must dispel ‘misunderstandings’ in this regard.

He also demanded expulsion of representative of the Vatican City from Pakistan. Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed and PPP cabinet members from the Punjab, including Ashraf Khan Sohna, Farooq Yusuf Ghurki and JI leader Liaquat Baloch were also present.

Meanwhile, PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said that the party will participate in the January 30 rally as it does not use the blasphemy issue as a political tool like the PML-N and won’t let anyone change a word in the blasphemy laws.

According to a press statement on Thursday, he said the PML-Q was not afraid of fake cases being registered against its workers and leaders by the Punjab government. He said the PML-Q trusted the judiciary completely and had come out clean from all the politically-motivated cases.

He said the PML-Q would not refrain from taking any step to guard the sanctity of the blasphemy laws. He said the issue of blasphemy was close to the heart of not just the Pakistani people but the Muslim Ummah as a whole and the PML-Q understood the significance and sanctity of the blasphemy law.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=28146&Cat=2

Altaf’s statement and remembering the 1953 martial law in Punjab

	Tuesday, January 25, 2011, Safar 20, 1432 A.H.
Top Story
Altaf’s statement and remembering the 1953 martial law in Punjab

By Sabir Shah
Tuesday, January 25, 2011

LAHORE: Apropos the fresh statement of MQM Chief Altaf Hussain that Martial Law should be imposed in Punjab to curb crimes and apprehend the criminals; annals of history reveal that the last time this province had come under military rule alone was in March 1953 when the then Governor General Ghulam Muhammad had handed over administration to Lt General Azam Khan to oversee the suppression of anti-Ahmadiyya violence.

Following increased violence against the Ahmadiyya Community and the ever-surging incidents of torture, murder attempts and arson, Governor General Ghulam Muhammad had to request the Army to intervene and quell the aggression.

This was the time when known criminals of Lahore were given a very tough time by General Azam Khan and all such elements were arrested and tried by speedy courts for their alleged involvement in the unlawful activities.

On March 6 1953, after a mosque and houses of Ahmedis were set ablaze in Rawalpindi by an unruly mob, Ghulam Muhammad finally ran out of patience and was left with no other option but to impose a Martial Law in Punjab on the same day to control the popular wave of civil disobedience.

Earlier in February 1953, a few Ahmedi preachers were murdered all over Punjab, their leaders were handcuffed and newspapers like “Daily Alfazal” and “Farooq” were banned for supporting this sect.

The 69-day-long army deployment in Punjab between March 6 and May 14 1953 also saw the Jama’at-e-Islami Chief Maulana Abul Ala Maudoodi and then Secretary General of the Awami Muslim League Maulana Abdul Sattar Khan Niazi getting arrested and convicted to death for spearheading and inciting the riots, though the sentences of both these top religious clerics were subsequently commuted to life terms due to last-minute intervention of a few brother Islamic countries.

While Maulana Abdul Sattar Niazi was given death by a military court on May 7 1953, Maudoodi was convicted four days later on May 11 of the same year for writing ‘provocative’ material against the Ahmedis.

Both Maudoodi and Niazi had threatened to take direct action after February 22 1953, if their demand to declare Ahmadis as non-Muslim were not met by Governor General Ghulam Muhammad’s regime.

Although General Azam Khan (1908-1994) had served as the Governor of East Pakistan during Field Martial Ayub Khan’s regime, he is also known to have strongly supported the presidential candidacy of Fatima Jinnah, instead of siding with his boss in army.

The Lahore riots of 1953 had also created political difficulties for Governor General Ghulam Muhammad, as he had to dismiss the then Punjab Chief Minister Mian Mumtaz Daultana in March 1953 on charges of patronizing the religious elements leading the anti-Ahmadi violence.

A month later on April 17 of the same year, Ghulam Muhammad dissolved the cabinet of country’s first Prime Minister Khwaja Nazimuddin and had sent the premier packing. Pakistan’s then Ambassador to the United States Mohammad Ali Bogra was asked to replace Khwaja Nazimuddin as the next prime minister.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=3550&Cat=13

Religious frenzy grips Pakistan

Thursday, January 20, 2010, Safar 14, 1432 

Religious frenzy grips Pakistan

Random Thoughts

Burhanuddin Hasan

There is hardly any doubt that Muslims, can lay down their lives to uphold and protect the honour and dignity of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him). His name comes after God in Quran and as Maulana Roomi says “You are ,in short, the most exalted after God.” In Sura Al Ahzab God says “God and His angels shower blessing on the Prophet (PBUH). O believers you too send darood and salam to him (PBUH)”. The Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) has the most exalted position among all Prophets sent by God. He (PBUH) was the only one called to the heavens by God on the night of Mairaj to honour him (PBUH) with his nearness. How can any Muslim have the courage to say a single word against his (PBUH) honour? If anybody does, he should be given death sentence with the due process of law. The Blasphemy Law was enacted during General Ziaul Haq’s rule. This was a man-made law and like all man-made laws could be reviewed from time to time if it is being misused by human beings like all laws. It is not a divine law enacted by God in Quran like some other laws. There are 57 Muslim countries in the world which, do not have any such law on their Statute Books.

The Blasphemy Law has been used in some cases in Pakistan and culprits have been punished if their crime was proved in a court of law. The punishment was awarded by a judge like all punishments. Nobody should take this law into his or her hands and execute the culprit without the due process. In the case of a Christian girl Asia; she was booked under the Blasphemy Law and was awarded death penalty by a court of law. She sent a mercy petition to the Governor of Punjab Mr Salman Taseer who met her in good faith and promised to take up her mercy petition with the President for favourable consideration. He had a feeling that the girl might have been framed like many other cases of Blasphemy. Media unduly sensationalized this story as it does in many such cases these days to gain popularity.

The JUI Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman who had left the Government on the sacking of one of his ministers in the Federal Cabinet by Prime Minister Gilani, pounced on this issue to take his revenge and gave a call for a nationwide agitation on the issue of Namoos-e-Risaalat, which was totally out of context but could add fuel to the fire of his revenge against the Prime Minister. All religious parties, which keep waiting for such an opportunity to hit the government, joined the agitation taking out big rallies all over the country. It should never be forgotten that these parties; particularly Jamat-e-Islami and the Deobandi group represented by Maulana Fazlur Rehman have always been against the very concept of Pakistan promoted by Iqbal and Jinnah for the Muslims of India as a modern forward looking State as against a theocratic one which was the demand of religious parties..However, when Pakistan came into being they converged on it to change its ideology. They did not succeed but they keep trying. Iqbal who was a great philosopher and scholar of Islam has written a lot about the ignorance of Mullahs.

But it is regrettable that our educational institutions are not teaching these words to our youth who are blindly following the very Mullahs who were against Pakistan. Returning to the tragic murder of Salman Taseer by his misguided security guard who is being idolized by some youth under the influence of the Mullahs is highly regrettable. They should realize that this was not a case of violation of the Holy Prophet’s Namoos (Naoozo Billah). It was a humanitarian effort and his duty as the Governor of Punjab to find out whether a girl belonging to the Christian minority community who claims that she has been falsely framed in a crime she did not commit, is right or wrong? It was his duty to put the girl’s petition to the President. This was by no means a violation of the Namoos-e Risaalat .The security guard who was on duty to protect the life of the Governor, is guilty of murder and will certainly be punished. Those who are idolizing him should also be punished.

It seems the government which is surrounded by all sorts of fears for its survival is hesitating to take bold action against the political parties which have opened the Pandora’s Box over the blasphemy issue at this time when the country is facing economic crises, religious terrorism and corruption. This matter if not tackled with courage and bold action against those elements that unnecessarily launched a mass hysteria on this highly explosive issue, may destabilize the country. One would expect the Supreme Court to take notice of this issue and take action against the criminal elements who are exploiting the name of Islam for an issue which is basically legal.

The media too needs to be directed to use restraint in reporting and commenting on the delicate and sensitive subject of blasphemy. Full marks to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who has raised his voice in defense of minority communities and has denounced the uncalled for religious frenzy, let loose by the Mullahs which may destabilize the country.

© Pakistan Observer 1998-2011, All rights reserved
URL: http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=72090

Rally against changes in blasphemy laws

	Tuesday, January 18, 2011, Safar 13, 1432 A.H.
Lahore
Rally against changes in blasphemy laws

By Our Correspondent
LAHORE

TRAFFIC on and around The Mall came to an absolute halt and remained choked for over three hours on Monday evening after Tahaffuz Namoos-e-Risalat Mahaz (TNRM) took out a large rally against the moves to amend blasphemy laws of Holy Prophet (SAW), particularly the demand by Pope Benedict to repeal the legislation, besides expressing solidarity with Mumtaz Qadri, the Elite Police guard who gunned down former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer.

The protestors riding trucks, wagons and other vehicles marched from Data Darbar to Governor’s House in over two hours while the police blocked the roads leading to The Mall, which caused a massive traffic mess. Long queues of vehicles were lined up in every direction during the closing hours in the evening causing serious problems to commuters in a rush to reach home.

Addressing the slogan chanting and banners waving protesters, TNRM leaders demanded an immediate end to the moves for amending blasphemy laws by dissolving the parliamentary committee headed by Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti and withdrawal of the bill tabled by Sherry Rehman. They also demanded exoneration of Mumtaz Qadri and bringing an end to vulgarity on media.

The TNRM leaders also announced to take out another rally in support of Mumtaz Qadri on January 19 (tomorrow), which would march from Lahore to Rawalpindi up to the house of Mumtaz Qadri for expressing solidarity with him.

TNRM president Allama Raza-e-Mustafa said rulers must display with their actions that they cared for the sentiments and emotions of 98 per cent Muslim majority in Pakistan and shun the anti-people policies of trampling their religious feelings and subjecting them to price hike and inflation.

Raghib Naeemi said silence of so-called liberals over Pope Benedict’s absurd demand had forced Pakistanis to come out on streets. Dr Ashraf Asif Jalali said the world must see that 98 per cent Muslims backed Mumtaz Qadri and consider them as their hero.

Naeem Noori warned the rulers against plundering public wealth and enforcing secularism in place of Islam, saying that Islam loving people would throw them out of power. Mohammad Ali Naqshbandi said Muslims in Pakistan would never allow the western conspiracy against blasphemy laws succeed in the country and guard the Islamic laws with their lives.

Others who addressed the protesters included Mohammad Ali Naqshbandi, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, Naeem Javed Noori, Shaukat Qadri, Nawaz Bashir Jalali, Ziaul Haq Naqshbandi, Ajmal Shah Gilani, Haseeb Qadri, Mufti Masoodur Rehman, Mujahdi Abdul Rasool, Mohammad Khan Leghari and others.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=26241&Cat=5&dt=1/18/2011

JI asks MQM to clarify stand on blasphemy law

	Friday, January 13, 2011, Safar 08, 1432 A.H.
Karachi
JI asks MQM to clarify stand on blasphemy law

By our correspondent
Karachi

The Jamat-e-Islami has categorically asked the Muttahida Qaumi Movement to clear its position regarding Namoos-e-Risalat law instead of asking religious parties to stop protesting against the issue.

The reaction of JI came in the wake of statement of Chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Altaf Hussain in which he had demanded religious parties to discontinue their campaign against blasphemy law as the government, especially the Prime Minister of Pakistan has clearly said that blasphemy law would not be revoked

The JI asked Altaf Hussain to pressurise the coalition government to announce on the floor of the House that the blasphemy law would not be repealed.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=25303&Cat=4&dt=1/13/2011

JI wants people to learn a lesson from Taseer’s murder

	Sunday, January 09, 2011, Safar 04, 1432 A.H.
Karachi
JI wants people to learn a lesson from Taseer’s murder

Sunday, January 09, 2011

By our correspondent
Karachi

The General Secretary, Jamat-e-Islami, Liaquat Baloch, while rejecting the proposed changes in the blasphemy law said that the January 9 public meeting would show the extent of love for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as people have united on one platform to vent their anger against the proposed changes.

He was addressing a joint press conference at the Idara-e-Noor-e-Haq on Saturday to announce details of the public meeting scheduled for January 9.

He held Governor Taseer responsible for his own murder due to his “negative attitude towards the law” and supporting a Christian woman who was convicted by the court and awarded the death sentence. He further said that people should learn a lesson from the murder of the governor of Punjab.

He said that the final moment had come for the defence of Namoos-e-Risalat and all were ready to sacrifice their lives if any change in the law was made by the government. It is the utmost decision of the Muslims of Pakistan that they would sacrifice their lives to defend the law.

He further said that the protests would continue till such time as the government withdrew the private bill presented by PPP MNA Sherry Rehman, abolished committees to review the law, and called for a clear-cut policy pertaining to the blasphemy law on the floor of the house.

‘Today leaders of Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-Risalat are united on the one-point agenda and demand of the government to review its decision and avoid toeing the policies of US.”

Abdul Ghafoor Haideri of the JUI-F said that the governor, Punjab, had taken up the issue as if it only aimed at opposing the minority community and he also consoled Aasia Bibi telling her that the matter would be taken to the president to pardon her punishment, which proved to be his last effort and he was sent to eternal peace.

He said that in a meeting on November 24 it was demanded Aasia Bibi’s issue should be resolved by the judiciary and warned the president of Pakistan not to interfere in it. But unfortunately the government used delaying tactics.

He said that government still had time to rethink the demands of Tehereek-e-Namoos-e-Risalat to dissolve the committee, withdraw the private bill, and announce its clear-cut policy on the law, otherwise leaders of the TNR would announce its future strategy.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=24666&Cat=4&dt=1/9/2011

Fazl demands Blasphemy Law bill removal

	Updated at 2355 PST Saturday, January 08, 2011
National
Fazl demands Blasphemy Law bill removal

KARACHI: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Saturday demanded the government to take back a private bill regarding Blasphemy Law presented in National Assembly.

Addressing a press conference at a local hotel here after a conference with heads of religious parties, the action against religious seminaries and madaris is based on government’s dishonesty.

Various leaders including Jamat-e-Islami chief Syed Munawwar Hasan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan’s Sahibzada Abul Khair Zubair and Maulana Hafeez Jalindhary attended the conference.

‘Action against religious forces and their seminaries is being intensified; however, we want to clarify that such stratagems are unbearable,’ Maulana Fazl said adding the recent incidents of Karachi violence are a conspiracy to stop Tahaffuz Namoos-e-Risalat rally and sabotage the conference in this regard.

JUI-F leader demanded the government to take back a private bill tabled in connection with Blasphemy Law and dissolve a committee established by President regarding Blasphemy Law to ascertain the culpability.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=8989

Ulema warn against any change in blasphemy law

	Thursday, January 6, 2011, Safar 01, 1432 A.H.
Karachi
Ulema warn against any change in blasphemy law

Thursday, January 6, 2011

By Shamim Bano
Karachi

Ulema belonging to different sects warned the government on Wednesday that any change in the blasphemy law would be opposed, and demanded immediate release of the assassin of Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer, Mumtaz Qadri.

Taseer’s murder was a case of divine retribution and the assassin, Mumtaz Qadri, has just demonstrated his steadfast faith, the Ulema said while addressing an All-Parties Conference (APC) organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami at the Idara-i-Noor-i-Haq in connection with Tahfuz-i-Namoos-i-Risalat and responsibilities of the Muslims.

They also asked both the president and the prime minister to dissolve the committee formed to review the blasphemy law, and vowed that the January 9 public meeting would show the strength of the followers of Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa(PBUH) and their love for Allah.

Over a dozen Ulema attended the APC held under the chairmanship of Asadullah Bhutto, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Sindh.

Addressing the APC, Bhutto said that Taseer was killed due his statements “against Namoos-i-Risalat”. He added that this was not the first murder in history as John F Kennedy and Indira Ghandhi also met the same fate when they issued controversial statements. In his strongly worded speech, Bhutto said such incidents would happen in future if the blasphemy law was not implemented.

He said the blasphemy law was promulgated with the consent of all the Ulema. This is the law of the holy Quran and Sunnah and Muslims have faith in it and no assembly can change the Islamic edicts, he said.

No injustice t the family members of Mumtaz Qadri would be tolerated, the JI leader said and demanded that all his family members be immediately released.

He also paid tribute to prayer leaders who refused to lead the Namaz-e-Janaza of Salman Taseer, adding that people by distributing sweets had proved that any change in the blasphemy law would not be tolerated.

He also called upon the president and the prime minister to ensure that no amendment was be made to the law and the private bill submitted by PPP MNA Sherry Rehman was withdrawn.

Mir Nawaz Khan said that Taseer had adopted an “anti-Islami stance” for which he was assassinated.

Addressing the APC, Qazi Ahmed Noorani said that the government should have taken notice of the Taseer’s statement about the law.

The Ulema emphatically stated that any amendment to the law would never be tolerated and anyone who dared change it would meet the same fate as Taseer.

Other speakers included Syed Zia Abbas, Siddique Rathore, Khan, Qari Mohammed Usman, Maulana Abdul Rauf, and Maulana Jaffer Ali Subhani.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=24078&Cat=4&dt=1/6/2011

Blasphemy laws: Religious right flexes its muscles

Pakistan

Blasphemy laws: Religious right flexes its muscles

January 01, 2011

Activists of Fundemental Rights Commission chant slogans against amendment in blasphemy laws during a protest demonstration at Hyder Chowk in Hyderabad on Friday December 31, 2010. PHOTO: PPI

KARACHI: A crippling strike shut down businesses and schools and derailed transport services across the country on Friday as religious parties offered their stoutest defence yet of the blasphemy laws. Despite the government’s firm assurances that the law would remain unchanged, leaders of the religious parties were determined to show just how much they opposed such a change.

On Thursday, the State Minister for Information Samsam Bokhari ruled out the possibility of any change in the law. “We will start a civil disobedience movement if the government makes any amendment to the law,” said Sunni Ittehad Council chairman Sahibzada Fazal Karim.

Analysts say the strike has more to do with politics than religion. “The government right now is in crisis and these religious parties are pressurising the government by playing with public sentiments,” political analyst Hasan Askari Rizvi told Reuters. Critics say the law is used to persecute religious minorities, fan religious extremism and settle personal scores.

In Karachi shopping centres, colleges and universities were closed and examinations scheduled for Friday were postponed.

President of the local transport association in Karachi, Irshad Bokhari, said public transport would remain off the road in response to the strike call. Chairman of Karachi Traders Unity, Atiq Mir said: “All markets and business centres are closed because the protection of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) honour is supreme to us.” A joint press conference was also held by more than 30 religious parties belonging to different sects at Idara-e-Noor-e-Haq here.

Speaking at the occasion, Tahfuz-e Namoos-e-Risalat convenor Abdul Khair Muhammad Zubair said Pakistan came into being in the name of Islam and no one would be allowed to amend the law. Zubair said the government, its ministers and parliamentarians should avoid talking on the issue. He called for hanging those who commit blasphemy and demanded action to be taken against the Punjab governor, who had called the blasphemy law a smear on the constitution.

Zubair said that a phased plan had been devised as part of their struggle. The first phase was launched on December 24. “The second event is the strike, but the third event, which is the most important, will be a large public gathering in Karachi on January 9 at MA Jinnah Road. “Thousands of people will gather to express their love for Islam and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh),” he said.

A strike was also observed in other parts of the province including Sukkur, Rohri, Pano Aqil, Ghotki, Mirpur Mathelo, Daharki and Jacobabad among others.

In Islamabad, hundreds of supporters of Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Namoos-i-Risalat (TTNS) rallied amid a complete shutter down in the twin cities to demonstrate their ‘pledge’ against attempts to amend blasphemy laws. Leading a rally held in Rawalpindi, General Secretary of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazl Maulana Ghafoor Haideri threatened of more protests and even a ‘long march and civil disobedience if the government attempted any amendments in the blasphemy laws’.

Protesters demanded an end to foreign intervention in the country’s internal affairs at rallies in Lahore. Protests were taken out from offices of trade associations after Friday prayers. Two of the major rallies were held at The Mall and Ichhra Chowk on Ferozepur Road. The rally at The Mall totalled close to 500 people, while the one on Ferozepur Road brought out about 200 people.

A complete shutter down was observed in many areas of Balochistan. The Jamiat-Ulema Islam (Ideology) organised a rally and held a demonstration in Mezan Chowk in Quetta, criticising the government’s intention to amend the blasphemy law.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AGENCIES

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2011.

URL: http://tribune.com.pk/story/97652/blasphemy-laws-religious-right-flexes-its-muscles/

Nation protests any change in blasphemy law

	Saturday, January 1, 2011, Muharram 25, 1432 A.H.
Nation protests any change in blasphemy law

Saturday, January 1, 2011

ISLAMABAD: A complete shutter-down strike was observed across the country on Friday as religious parties held rallies and protests against any alleged move by the government to amend the blasphemy law.

All major business centres, markets and bazaars remained closed throughout the day, while there was thin traffic on roads in all the major cities of the country. The Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat gave a strike call on Thursday. It was supported by the traders community and transporters. Strict security measures were adopted in all the major cities to avoid any unpleasant event.

Like other parts of the country, rallies were also held in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. A large number of people attended the rallies, holding placards and shouting slogans against Interior Minister Rehman Malik and former information minister Sherry Rehman for allegedly supporting the amendment to the blasphemy law.

Addressing the protest rallies, the speakers said: “We will not tolerate anyone who will make any amendment to the blasphemy law. The only punishment for blasphemy is capital punishment and nobody has the right to amend this law.” Addressing a rally in Islamabad, Shabab-e-Milli Pakistan leader Shahid Gilani said if Aasia Masih, a blasphemy convict, was guilty, she must be punished according to the law.

“The Punjab governor, Sherry Rehman and Rehman Malik should be very careful while giving remarks about the blasphemy law,” another speaker said. Majority of business centres in the twin cities remained closed. Leaders of the business community said protecting the sanctity of Holy Prophet (PBUH) was not the duty of religious parties only, but of all the Muslims belonging to all walks of life.

All major markets and business centres were closed in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar, besides other cities. Public transport was not running in Karachi. Violence flared up in the commercial hub of Pakistan as police and protesters clashed during a protest strike.

Police said protesters near the home of President Asif Ali Zardari in Karachi pelted stones as they shouted slogans including ‘we we’ll sacrifice our lives — we’ll save the sanctity of the Prophet (PBUH)’. Teargas shells were fired to disperse them.

“We will start a civil disobedience movement if the government makes any amendment to the law,” the chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council, Sahibzada Fazal Karim, told AFP. Shopping centres, colleges and universities were closed, and examinations scheduled for Friday in Karachi were postponed.

The president of Karachi’s local transport association, Irshad Bokhari, told AFP that public transport remained off the road as part of the strike. Protest rallies were held and a shutter-down strike observed in Quetta, Zhob, Loralai, Sibi, Mastung, Kalat, Dera Murad Jamali, Nushki and Chaghai districts of Balochistan.

Vowing to foil any plan to amend the blasphemy law, thousands of people in Gilgit threatened the government of dire consequences, if the PPP-led government moved to amend the blasphemy law.

“We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the sanctity of the last Prophet (PBUH). We will not allow anybody to amend the blasphemy law,” said Maulana Nisar Ahmed, one of the top religious leaders in Gilgit-Baltistan, while addressing a mammoth gathering. Luqman Hakim, the JUI-F chief of Gilgit-Baltistan chapter, Maulana Khalil Qasmi, Khateeb Moti Masjid, and others also spoke on the occasion.

More than 10,000 people turned up in the rally that culminated peacefully after passing a declaration against any alleged move of the government to amend the blasphemy law. The declaration also criticised Rehman Malik and Sherry Rehman. Most of markets in Gilgit remained closed all the day as the Islami Council had also extended its support for the strike.

A complete shutter-down strike was observed in Bahawalpur on the call of the Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat. Rallies and shutter-down strike was also observed in Ahmadpur East, Hasilpur, Yazman, Smasatta, Bahawalnagar, Chistian, Haroon Abad and Lodhran.

URL: http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=3047&Cat=13

City shuts in protest at bid to change blasphemy law

	Saturday, January 1, 2011, Muharram 25, 1432 A.H.
Karachi
City shuts in protest at bid to change blasphemy law

Saturday, January 1, 2011

By Shamim Bano
Karachi

The busy life of the metropolis took a pause on Friday when thousands of supporters and activists of various religious parties and groups marched and shouted a warning to the government – don’t change the blasphemy law or face more protests, including a civil disobedience movement.

The shutter-down strike – the call for which was given by the Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-Risalat (TNR) in protest against proposed amendments to the country’s contentious blasphemy law – also seemed a wheel-jam strike as public transport stayed off the road.

All trader organisations backed the strike and kept their businesses shut. All shopping centres of the city also closed. The Sunni Ittehad Council staged a massive rally led by Sahibzada Fazal Karim. The rally started from Shamzai Chowk and ended at the Tibet Centre on MA Jinnah Road amid tight security. Rangers and other law enforcers were deployed on the rooftops of several buildings along the route of the rally as part of the security measures. Roads and lanes leading towards the site of the rally were closed to all vehicular traffic.

The rally adopted several resolutions, one of which demanded of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to give a policy statement in the parliament or address the nation to satisfy the citizens of the country over the issue.

The resolutions demanded removal of Salman Taseer as the governor of Punjab for trying to get the blasphemy law amended. They also demanded that the private bill presented to a committee of the National Assembly by PPP MNA Sherry Rehman should be withdrawn or the parliamentary committee should reject it.

The participants of the rally urged that Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, who is also the head of a committee formed to review the proposed changes in the law, should either voluntarily resign or be replaced.

The rally was attended by Sarwat Ejaz Qadri of the Sunni Tehreek, Haji Hanif Tayyub, Shahid Ghauri and others. Later, the Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-Risalat (TNR) threatened a million-man march on Islamabad if the government considered proposed amendments to the blasphemy law.

The TNR also gave the government a nine-day ultimatum to clear its stance, otherwise people would lay a siege to the Parliament House. The ultimatum was given by TNR chief Sahibzada Abul Khair at a joint press conference addressed by about 35 religious and political leaders at the Idara-i-Noor-i-Haq.

The leaders said the strike conveyed a message to the government and the entire western world that any change in the blasphemy law would be resisted and people would take to the streets in protest.

They demanded immediate dissolution of the committee headed by Shahbaz Bhatti . The demand came a day after a federal minister made it clear that the government was not considering changing the law.

The religious and political leaders also called for immediate removal of Sherry Rehman as MNA. They said the government should denounce the bill presented by the MNA. They also demanded immediate sacking of Governor Punjab Salman Taseer, and vowed that their struggle would continue till his removal from office.

Shaibzada Zubair said a public meeting was scheduled to be held in the city on January 9 and “we have given nine days to the government to remove all ambiguities in this regard or be ready to face the consequences”.

The chief of Alami Khatam-i-Nabuwat, Maulana Tauseef, said anyone using derogatory remarks against the president of Pakistan is charged with treason under the Constitution, so any person who uses sacrilegious remarks against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) should also be punished and given the death sentence under the Islamic law.

Maulana Afzal Sardar of Jamiat-i-Ahle Hadith said that though there were different sects in the country, they were united at one platform on the issue of Namoos-i-Risalat as they had taken oath to safeguard the sanctity of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Professor Ghafoor Ahmed of the Jamaat-i-Islami said that Muslims could be impractical but would never tolerate any derogatory remarks against the Holy Prophet (PBUH) or any change in the blasphemy law.

AFP adds: Violence flared in an area of the city on Friday as police and protesters clashed during a mass protest strike that closed businesses over a bid to change the blasphemy law. Police said protesters near the Bilawal House pelted stones as they shouted slogans, including “we’ll sacrifice our lives — we’ll save the sanctity of the Prophet” (PBUH). Teargas shells were fired to disperse them, AFP reporters said.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=23255&Cat=4

PM given four days to reject moves against blasphemy laws

	Saturday, December 28, 2010, Muharram 21, 1432 A.H.
National
PM given four days to reject moves against blasphemy laws

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

By our correspondent

LAHORE : The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), an alliance of religious parties, has warned the rulers of launching a countrywide anti-government movement, including a siege of parliament and an indefinite sit-in there if the prime minister did not make a clear announcement within four days to reject all the moves and proposals aimed at amending the blasphemy law.

“If the prime minister does not make a clear announcement, shunning the West-sponsored moves to amend the blasphemy law within four days, we will launch 1977-like movement against the PPP government and stage a sit-in outside parliament for an indefinite period,” said SIC Chairman Sahibzada Fazal Karim while chairing an all Pakistan Tahaffuz Namoos Risalat convention at the Aiwan-e-Iqbal here on Monday.

A large number of Ulema, Mashaikh and scholars from all over the country attended the convention of the SIC, a platform of religious parties affiliated with the Barelvi school of thought, asking the government to back out of the West-sponsored conspiracy against the blasphemy law.

Fazal Karim also announced that a Tahaffuz Namoos Risalat rally would be taken out in Karachi on December 31, 2010. He dispelled the criticism of blasphemy law as a legislation directed against minorities.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=22623&Cat=2

Govt warned against amending blasphemy law

	Saturday, December 25, 2010, Muharram 18, 1432 A.H.
Karachi
Govt warned against amending blasphemy law

Saturday, December 25, 2010

By Shamim Bano
Karachi

Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-Risalt in KarachiThousands of supporters of religious groups rallied in Karachi on Friday against the proposed amendments to the blasphemy law, threatening the government with public’s wrath if it moved to amend the law.

The call for the protest was given by the Tehreek-e-Namoos-e-Risalt which was supported by a number of religious groups from different schools of thought. Protesters gathered outside hundreds of mosques in the city to defend the law.

Former information minister Sherry Rehman submitted a draft bill to the National Assembly in November, seeking an end to the death penalty under the existing law after a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, was given the death sentence for blaspheming the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

At this, religious groups joined hands to defend the law and in a meeting in Lahore on December 16 they announced a multi-phase, countrywide campaign to press the government to refrain from bringing any change in the law.

The protesters — belonging to Brelvi, Deobandi, Shia, Ahle Hadith and other sects — vowed to continue their protests till the government withdrew the bill from the lower house of parliament. They also demanded ouster of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer for lobbying to get a pardon for Asia Bibi from the president of the country.

The rally adopted several resolutions, asking the government to stick to the punishment awarded to Asia Bibi and sack the Punjab governor.

Strict security measures were seen en route of the rally. A massive gridlock was also witnessed on MA Jinnah Road.

The religious groups also announced they would observe a countrywide shutter-down strike on December 31. Besides, a public meeting will be held on January 9.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=22074&Cat=4