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Sunday, March 13, 2011
Malik sees accord on blasphemy law
LONDON: Pakistani politicians should be able to reach a cross-party accord to end misuse of the blasphemy law, based on proposals made by the leader of a religious party, said Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Friday.
The comments by Malik were the clearest sign yet of government’s attempts to reduce tension over the blasphemy law, which has become a bitterly divisive issue that has highlighted the power of the religious right in Pakistani society.
Malik told Reuters in an interview that party leaders would meet to try to reach a consensus on the law, as proposed by Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
“Its misuse is being, of course, taken into account and the party leaders are going to sit together as proposed by Maulana Fazlur Rehman and I hope this matter can be thrashed out, whenever this meeting takes pace,” he said.
Malik declined to answer a question on whether politicians would discuss amendments to the law, or simply introduce measures to prevent its misuse, saying this would be a collective decision and he would abide by the consensus.
The interior minister said Fazlur Rehman’s proposals would be likely to gain support, without giving details. “Everybody, I think will follow him in this connection,” he said.
Asked whether this meant the PPP had resolved its differences with him, Malik said, “He has always favoured and taken the side of the Pakistan People’s Party. He is a great friend of mine, he is a great friend of the president, he is a great lover of democracy so you can draw the inference that there is nothing wrong.”
The furore over the blasphemy law, which has stunned Pakistan’s secular minority, has coincided with a row over CIA contractor Raymond Davis, who shot dead two Pakistanis in Lahore.
Malik declined to comment on Davis on the grounds his case rested with the courts, but said he did not believe it should be allowed to affect relations with the US.
“We should not make a big issue out of it. I think the US must also realise that as we respect their laws and their courts then similarly let’s wait for the decision from the court. Again I repeat that the matter is sub judice.” reuters
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk