No intention to amend blasphemy law: PM

Prime Minister Gilani says the government has neither moved a bill or formed a committee to amend the blasphemy law.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said that the Government had no intention to amend the blasphemy law.

"Neither the government has moved a bill nor any committee has been formed to amend the said law as both the treasury and opposition benches are on the same page and are unanimous on this sensitive issue," Prime Minister Gilani told the lower house of the parliament in response to a point raised by opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Gilani said that a Muslim could not have two opinions on the blasphemy law, adding that he could not even think of amending it.

Regarding the proposed amendment in the blasphemy law tabled in the parliament by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) minister Sherry Rehman, Gilani said the amendment did not reflect party policy and that Rehman had moved the bill in her individual capacity.

He said that he had talked to Rehman about the bill she had submitted and told her that being a sensitive issue, it should have been discussed within the party before being moved. He said that she had agreed with him.

The prime minister further said that he had called on an ulema's conference on Namoos-e-Risalat and made it clear to them that the government had no intention to amend the law.

He invited the ulema to come forward and join hands with the government in its efforts to prevent misuse of the blasphemy law, adding that if the minorities had any reservations, the law could be made more effective in its functioning.

The House was told that the majority of blasphemy cases had been registered against Muslims.

Gilani reiterated that the government had great respect for the ulema and while they were free to take out rallies, they should not be targeted against the government as it had made its stance clear.