Pakistan

Do not mix religion and politics: Khursheed Shah

PPP ministers claim no proposal is under consideration to amend or repeal the blasphemy law.

Express December 30, 2010

Minister for Labour and Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah has urged political parties not to use religion as a "tool to play politics". He was addressing a press conference in Karachi.

Earlier in the day, Federal Minister for Information Sumsam Bukhari has said no PPP parliamentarian has endorsed the statement of Punjab Governor that blasphemy law was a black law. He has also claimed that no proposal is under consideration to amend or repeal the blasphemy law.

While speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, he said certain parties are exploiting the emotions of people in the name of Prophet (PBUH) which are highly uncalled for. He advised Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman who has been sentenced to death by a court on charges of blasphemy, to approach the higher court to prove her innocence in the case.

Although the government has already announced that it has no plan to amend the controversial blasphemy law, the JUI-F and other religious parties are still carrying out street agitation, citing a government conspiracy to repeal the blasphemy law.

Speaking at a news conference in Islamabad, JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said his party is not satisfied with the statements given by the ministers.

He says such a statement should come from the prime minister or the president. The JUI-F leader also insists that the President can not pardon Aasia.

The JUI-F has announced a nationwide shutter-down strike on Friday and most business centres in major cities of Pakistan will remain closed.

COMMENTS (12)

Sohrab | 13 years ago | Reply Yes, you should have thought about this when your leader declared Qadianis as non-Muslims and introduced many provisions in the law to infuse religion in politics. That is when the seeds of obscurantism and bigotry were boosted in the Pakistani landscape.

abdullah | 13 years ago | Reply @robin islam was never a mix of religion and politics u realy look confused for godsake go and read the history of pakistan properly and mr .khurshid y dnt u go and tell this to your coalition partner JUI-F.

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Akhlaque | 13 years ago | Reply And do not mix corruption with politics too, Mr Shah. In Pakistan every one mixes with politics anything he has. Mullahs have a potent brew in the form of religious pressure; why should they abstain.

Kathrine Haynes | 13 years ago | Reply It is now fairly common knowledge that the United Nations have in their annals a law draafted to ban all religion

Raza | 13 years ago | Reply And ladies and gentlemen that is why we are a third world

mohammed+abbasi | 13 years ago | Reply Maybe we can use this blasphemy law on the assorted mullahs who have used Islam as a way to gain profit and power?

badar | 13 years ago | Reply blasphemy law, A sharp turn in pakistan...plz take it seriously..

Robin | 13 years ago | Reply Religion mixed with Politics created Pakistan; Now how can this guy say don't mix religion with Politics; doesn't make sense

Umair Mallick | 13 years ago | Reply These are religious terrorists who are using blasphemy law as a tool to incite people. They want to spread the terror in the name of blasphemy. What a shame.. If I see these maulvis doing simple things to create a better society even for example coming out in the streets to clear up garbage filled streets, make public order, empowering women in society, eliminate fake religious madrasas exploiting innocent children and youth etc, may be then we could perhaps give them some credibility. Pity that they are far from doing anything good for this society. They should simply be rooted out as they stand no where in a civilised world.

Concerned, Omega | 13 years ago | Reply Now if all we had to do to solve almost all existing and future problems and loopholes in our legal system, do not mix religion and politics!!!! I can bet almost all problems will be solved.

Humanity | 13 years ago | Reply "If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do, and how to do it." -- Abraham Lincoln What world does the minister live in? He seems to not know that state and religion were mixed in 1949 with the Objectives Resolution. Sixty-one years ago, Islam became a political tool of the few to control the masses. "And Jesus .. said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand." -- Matthew 12:25

Muhamaed Husein | 13 years ago | Reply Please tell this to JUI (F) and JI. and ex MMA

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