LAHORE: The federal government’s attempts to placate religious parties calling for a countrywide protest and shutters-down strike today have been met with a stubborn ‘not enough’. The religious parties will continue their protests in the city for today even though the federal government has declared that it will not change or repeal the blasphemy laws.
Religious Affairs Minister Khurshid Ahmed Shah made a policy statement in Parliament that the government had no intention to repeal the laws and disowned the private bill moved by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Sherry Rehman proposing changes in the law.
Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told the media that the government had no plans to amend the blasphemy laws or to repeal them.
Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chairman MNA Sahibzada Fazle Karim, however, told The Express Tribune that the ministers’ statements were not enough to stop their protest. He said that at least the prime minister should come on national television and assure the nation that no change would be made in the blasphemy laws. He added that President Asif Ali Zardari must also de-notify the committee set up for deliberation over Rehman’s bill.
He said that even if the prime minister and the president proceeded in the manner the strike call may not be withdrawn.
The SIC have announced Friday as black day and plan to hold a rally in front of the Lahore Press Club. Tehrik Hurmat Rasool (THR) issued a statement on Thursday that they would observe a countrywide shutters-down strike.
The statement said that they had taken the country’s traders had agreed to participate in the strike. It said that after Friday prayers, Muslims should take out protest rallies to show their respect for the Holy Prophet (pbuh). On Thursday, some police officials were among those distributing pamphlets about the strike among shopkeepers in Anarkali.
National Council of Churches Pakistan general secretary Victor Azariah told The Express Tribune that banners and placards inscribed with quotations against blasphemers had made the Christian community insecure.
He said that some leaders were exploiting Aasia’s case and the blasphemy laws for their own political motives and were indirectly harming the Christian community. He said that they had a right to protest but they should change their schedule to a day other than December 25 and December 31.
Fazle Karim said that they had no intention of sabotaging the Christians celebrations. He said they believed in complete religious freedom and protection of lives, properties and worship places of followers of all religions.
Lahore deputy inspector general (Operations) Rao Sardar Ali said that the police have made a comprehensive plan for deployment of force to ensure peace on Friday. He said security would be deployed outside main shopping malls and Christian worship places. State Information Minister Samsam Bukhari said, on Thursday, that the government had no plan to repeal the blasphemy laws.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2010.
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