'No change to blasphemy law'

Prime Minister denies change to controversial law, says controversy surrounding the law should end.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday categorically ruled out any amendment to the blasphemy law.

Speaking to the media after a conference in Islamabad, Gilani said that the government had already ruled out any change to the law and the controversy surrounding the law should end.

Gilani’s statement comes on the day when chairman of the PPP, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, declared that he would defend minorities in Pakistan and that those celebrating the death of Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer were "the real blasphemers".

Earlier, Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Shah had also said that the government had no intention of repealing the law. In a policy statement issued to the National Assembly, Khursheed Shah had said the government did not own the private bill submitted by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) legislator, Sherry Rehman, seeking to amend the Blasphemy Act.