Pak clerics launch campaign to protect blasphemy laws

ISLAMABAD - Political and religious parties in Pakistan have launched a campaign to protect the country’s blasphemy laws.

The decision was announced by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at a press conference in Islamabad.

The conference was attended by leaders of the Jamaat-i-Islami, the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) and Jamaatud Dawa, and by representatives of Wafaqul Madaris (religious educational boards) and many other religious organizations and groups.

Rehman, who presided over the conference, said that all the religious parties were united on the issue, and vowed to resist any move by the government to make changes in the existing blasphemy laws.

“All the mosques in the country would organize demonstrations on December 24 after Friday prayers,” the Dawn quoted Rehman, as saying.

He said that a big public meeting and demonstration would also be held in Karachi on January 9, which would be attended by all central leaders of religious parties. (ANI)