‘Blasphemy allegations to be judged before lodging FIR’
Interior Minister Rehman Malik says blasphemy law will not be amended.
KARACHI:
Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has assured religious parties that there will be no amendment in the blasphemy law.
In a three-hour meeting between Malik, Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and religious parties at the National Crisis Management Cell, it was decided that a 10-member committee would be formed to probe into any blasphemy allegation levelled against someone and judge the case’s validity before the registration of an FIR.
Reading the decision of the government to the media, ulema Haji Hanif Tayyab said the government had assured them that neither was the amendment bill moved by Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Sherry Rehman approved by parliament nor has any committee under Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti been constituted to bring about an amendment in the blasphemy law. “No notification has been issued in this connection. If such a committee exists then it will be abolished,” he said, quoting the government’s resolution.
Criticising Pope Benedict XVI’s statement about the blasphemy law, Tayyab said no one has the right to interfere in a country’s internal affairs. The government has also decided a high-level meeting with religious leaders in Islamabad in the next few days in which a final decision will be made.
He said the 10-member committee, comprising religious leaders, would also play a role in bolstering harmony and fighting extremism in the country. Tayyab said that since other laws in the country are being misused by the authorities concerned, therefore mishandling of the blasphemy law cannot be ruled out. “We will not let anyone blame innocent people under this law.”
Earlier, Rehman Malik termed the meeting of religious parties a big achievement and said that with the cooperation of the religious parties, the polarisation among religious and political parties would come to end. He said that during the trying times the country was going through, religious parties have shown maturity, vowed to participate in a joint campaign against the wave of terrorism and support the government at any forum.
Reporter’s murder
Talking about the murder of Geo News reporter Wali Khan Babar, Malik said there has been a breakthrough in his murder case but he cannot share the details right now. “I announce the formation of a judicial commission to probe the murders of the reporter and other journalists who were killed in Sindh.” Addressing the journalists he said, “I request you to please help the police and law-enforcement agencies if anyone gets any clue about the incidents.”
Malik said that no one could deny the role of media in highlighting the genuine issues of the masses and journalists have played their role in the war against terrorism. “How can the government keep silent on the horrifying killings of these journalists?”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2011.
Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has assured religious parties that there will be no amendment in the blasphemy law.
In a three-hour meeting between Malik, Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and religious parties at the National Crisis Management Cell, it was decided that a 10-member committee would be formed to probe into any blasphemy allegation levelled against someone and judge the case’s validity before the registration of an FIR.
Reading the decision of the government to the media, ulema Haji Hanif Tayyab said the government had assured them that neither was the amendment bill moved by Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Sherry Rehman approved by parliament nor has any committee under Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti been constituted to bring about an amendment in the blasphemy law. “No notification has been issued in this connection. If such a committee exists then it will be abolished,” he said, quoting the government’s resolution.
Criticising Pope Benedict XVI’s statement about the blasphemy law, Tayyab said no one has the right to interfere in a country’s internal affairs. The government has also decided a high-level meeting with religious leaders in Islamabad in the next few days in which a final decision will be made.
He said the 10-member committee, comprising religious leaders, would also play a role in bolstering harmony and fighting extremism in the country. Tayyab said that since other laws in the country are being misused by the authorities concerned, therefore mishandling of the blasphemy law cannot be ruled out. “We will not let anyone blame innocent people under this law.”
Earlier, Rehman Malik termed the meeting of religious parties a big achievement and said that with the cooperation of the religious parties, the polarisation among religious and political parties would come to end. He said that during the trying times the country was going through, religious parties have shown maturity, vowed to participate in a joint campaign against the wave of terrorism and support the government at any forum.
Reporter’s murder
Talking about the murder of Geo News reporter Wali Khan Babar, Malik said there has been a breakthrough in his murder case but he cannot share the details right now. “I announce the formation of a judicial commission to probe the murders of the reporter and other journalists who were killed in Sindh.” Addressing the journalists he said, “I request you to please help the police and law-enforcement agencies if anyone gets any clue about the incidents.”
Malik said that no one could deny the role of media in highlighting the genuine issues of the masses and journalists have played their role in the war against terrorism. “How can the government keep silent on the horrifying killings of these journalists?”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2011.