Pope to Pakistan: Repeal blasphemy law

Pope Benedict XVI

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/159588.html


Pope Benedict XVI has called on Pakistan to overturn the country's anti-blasphemy law and do much more to protect religious minorities from violent attacks.

In his annual New Year address to diplomats in the Vatican City on Monday, the pope said the death penalty for blasphemy charges was a pretext for violence against minorities, the Associated Press reported.

"I once more encourage the leaders of that country to take the necessary steps to abrogate that law, all the more so because it is clear that it serves as a pretext for acts of violence against religious minorities," he said.

In December, a draft bill which was aimed at amending the law was discussed in the lower house of parliament. The bill sought to abolish the death penalty for blasphemy charges.

The proposal triggered rallies in all major Pakistani cities, including Lahore, Karachi, Bahwalpur, Multan and Rawalpindi where thousands of demonstrators took to streets in protest to the bill.

Benedict's speech came just days after senior Pakistani politician Salman Taseer, who opposed the legislation, was assassinated by his own bodyguard.

More than 50,000 people took to the streets in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi on Sunday to protest the proposed amendment to the country's blasphemy law.

The demonstrators warned that any move seeking to soften the current blasphemy law would unleash a wave of nationwide protests.

Pakistan premier makes 11 compromises

Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (L) with main opposition leader Nawaz Sharif

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/159392.html


Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has accepted eleven key demands by the country's main opposition party in an attempt to end political turmoil.

This comes after a week of political ups and downs in the country, with government briefly losing its majority in parliament.

Gilani has responded positively to points made by Pakistan's main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party leader and former premier Nawaz Sharif during a phone conversation.

On top of the opposition wish list are probes into corruption scandals and the creation of an independent election body. He also says the government must implement a series of court verdicts against ruling party officials for corruption.

PML-N governs the Punjab Province and has given Gilani 45 days to meet its demands.

Sharif had given the Islamabad government an ultimatum to agree to key reforms or face collapse.

"If the government says no to our demands, then I think it will be a very weak government," Sharif said in early January.

"But we need a strong government, and I think for this, we may need the fresh mandate from the people," he said.

Earlier, Gilani reversed a controversial fuel price hike under pressures from the opposition and his key ally -- Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party.

The MQM, the dominant political force in the southern port city of Karachi, shortly joined the opposition to protest the hikes, but later rejoined the ruling coalition.

Gilani now controls a slender majority in the lower house of parliament.

The developments also come after the governor of Punjab Province was killed in a shooting in the capital Islamabad on Tuesday.

Experts say Salman Taseer's death is expected to further add to instability in the South Asian country.

Taseer was a high-profile member of the ruling party and a close ally of President Asif Ali Zardari.

Pakistan has a history of military takeovers and political unrest since it secured independence from Britain in 1947.

Pakistanis hold rally over blasphemy law

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/159359.html


Thousands have taken to the streets of the southern Pakistani city of Karachi to protest proposed amendments to the country's blasphemy law.

More than 40,000 demonstrators blocked the main road and shut down all markets in the port city of Karachi.

It is one of several protests in the past few weeks, triggered by lodging of a bill by former information minister to abolish the death penalty for blasphemy.

Former Information Minister Sherry Rehman from the ruling Pakistan People's Party sparked public fury after introducing a motion seeking to abolish the death penalty for blasphemy.

Proponents of the move in government say some political groups were misusing this law against minorities.

Strikes and protests went ahead despite officials saying the government had no intention to amend the controversial law. Experts say the strikes had more to do with politics than religion.

Sunday's demonstration follows the Tuesday assassination of Governor of Punjab Salman Taseer by his bodyguard. Officials said he was killed because of his opposition to blasphemy law.

Taseer's death is expected to further fuel instability in the country.

The developments come at a time when the Islamabad government is trying to tackle growing militancy and the economic crisis in the country.