Up to 50,000 people have staged a protest
in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi
against a proposed softening of strict
blasphemy laws.
The rally was attended by all major Muslim
groups and sects in the city, including moderates
and conservatives.
The demonstration comes days after the killing of
Punjab Province Governor Salman Taseer, who
had backed the proposed amendments.
The governor was allegedly shot by one of his
own bodyguards.
The killing has divided Pakistani society.
'No compromise'
Religious groups blocked a main street in Karachi,
holding banners in support of Malik Mumtaz
Hussein Qadri, who is accused of shooting dead
Mr Taseer last Tuesday.
"Mumtaz Qadri is not a murderer, he is a hero,"
read one banner at the Sunday's rally, news
agency AFP reports.
"We salute the courage of Qadri," said another.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was quoted by
AFP news agency as saying in Islamabad: "I have
already clarified and our religious affairs minister
has also said that we have no intentions to
amend this law."
Mr Taseer - a senior member of the governing
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) - had recently
angered Islamists by calling for a Christian
woman, Asia Bibi, sentenced to death for
blasphemy, to be pardoned.
Mumtaz Qadri was detained after the shooting
and is said to have confessed to the murder.
At his first court appearance in Islamabad the
guard was showered with rose petals by lawyers
and hugged by other supporters.
Mr Qadri said he had been angered by Mr
Taseer's stance against the blasphemy laws.
Asia Bibi was sentenced to death for allegedly
insulting the Prophet Muhammad during an
argument with other farmhands in a Punjab
village in June 2009. She denies the charge.
Under Pakistan's blasphemy law, insulting Islam
is a capital offence.
Critics say the law has been used to persecute
minority faiths in Pakistan and is exploited by
people with personal grudges.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12149011
in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi
against a proposed softening of strict
blasphemy laws.
The rally was attended by all major Muslim
groups and sects in the city, including moderates
and conservatives.
The demonstration comes days after the killing of
Punjab Province Governor Salman Taseer, who
had backed the proposed amendments.
The governor was allegedly shot by one of his
own bodyguards.
The killing has divided Pakistani society.
'No compromise'
Religious groups blocked a main street in Karachi,
holding banners in support of Malik Mumtaz
Hussein Qadri, who is accused of shooting dead
Mr Taseer last Tuesday.
"Mumtaz Qadri is not a murderer, he is a hero,"
read one banner at the Sunday's rally, news
agency AFP reports.
"We salute the courage of Qadri," said another.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was quoted by
AFP news agency as saying in Islamabad: "I have
already clarified and our religious affairs minister
has also said that we have no intentions to
amend this law."
Mr Taseer - a senior member of the governing
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) - had recently
angered Islamists by calling for a Christian
woman, Asia Bibi, sentenced to death for
blasphemy, to be pardoned.
Mumtaz Qadri was detained after the shooting
and is said to have confessed to the murder.
At his first court appearance in Islamabad the
guard was showered with rose petals by lawyers
and hugged by other supporters.
Mr Qadri said he had been angered by Mr
Taseer's stance against the blasphemy laws.
Asia Bibi was sentenced to death for allegedly
insulting the Prophet Muhammad during an
argument with other farmhands in a Punjab
village in June 2009. She denies the charge.
Under Pakistan's blasphemy law, insulting Islam
is a capital offence.
Critics say the law has been used to persecute
minority faiths in Pakistan and is exploited by
people with personal grudges.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12149011
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