Punjab Governor's call for repeal of blasphemy law welcomed

Pakistani Christians have welcomed a call made by the Governor of Punjab province, who said that blasphemy law is being "widely misused and should be repealed to protect religious minorities from religious extremists".

Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer was talking to newsmen last Thursday at an Iftar dinner hosted in honour of the chapter of the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in Lahore, the provincial state capital. Iftar dinner is a meal served at the end of Ramadan, the Muslims' holy month of fasting.

"The blasphemy law should be abolished," he was quoted as saying by the Nation daily newspaper when newsmen questioned him on the matter that has become a hot issue in Pakistan. Punjab is the most prosperous and most populated province of Pakistan that has seen increased attacks on Christians on the pretext of 'desecrating the Koran'.

Last month, eight Christians were killed in Gojra town on Aug. 1, when a Muslim mob reportedly supported by Muslim extremist group attacked Christians on the allegation of desecrating the Koran, over 60 homes were burnt. On 29 July, Christian village of Korian was also attacked, about 100 homes were damaged, the assailants also stole jewellery and cash, destroying furniture and other furnishings. The attacks was widely condemned by Christians around the world. World Church body - it prompted World Council of Churches (WCC) to call on Pakistan to protect the Christians.

However, the attack continues. Last week, Robert Masih, Christian youth too was jailed on an alleged blasphemy. He was killed inside prison on 12 September, the authorities said he committed suicide but rights activists suspected he was tortured, prompting a violent protest by Christians in Sialkot district. Christians have been demanding the repeal of the blasphemy law, they said it has been used against them to settle personal scores.

Punjab Governor Mr Taseer said that that it was responsibility of state to take special care of religious minorities. He said he would not put the blame on Punjab government for Gojra incident, because "whenever I talk about Punjab government it seems as if the earth has started trembling".

"Incidents like Gojra were taking place due to religious extremism, "whose seeds, were sown long ago and now we were reaping the crop," Salmaan said.

Christians have welcomed the statement made by the Governor of Punjab, commenting on the statements of Governor of Punjab.

Peter Jacob, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) of the Catholic Church - said that "it is an important statement" and "a welcome one". "But what counts most - added the activist Catholic - is that the Prime Minister of Pakistan ought to speak of the matter and explain to the people" what's happening in the country, he told AsiaNews.

Meanwhile, Bhahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's minister for minority affairs told a bipartisan US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on 17 September that, "The stand of the Pakistani government is to review, revisit and amend blasphemy laws so it will not remain a tool in the hands of extremists," he was quoted as saying by Agence-French Press.

Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC) said they are surprised by the statement from the minister of the minority affairs who was awarded a first-of-a-kind medallion for championing the rights of minorities in the Islamic state by USCIRF, a bipartisan US government agency.

"While a Muslim governor of Punjab is calling for the repeal of the blasphemy law," PCC said, Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian himself, and the government are only planning to "review" and "revise" the blasphemy law. PCC said it is nothing but "stabbing at back of Pakistani Christians". PCC said it agrees with the governor of Punjab and is calling for the abolition of the blasphemy law.