With clear warning to the government, about a dozen religious leaders on Sunday asked it to renounce the support to blasphemy perpetrators, or be ready to confront the nation's wrath. Thousands of people marched on M A Jinnah Road from Nomaish Chowrangi to Tibet Centre to protest against the government's move of changing the blasphemy law.
Waving flags, majority of participants were from different religious sects, raising slogans to protect the blasphemy law with placards in hands and praising Salman Taseer's murderer Mumtaz Qadri for his act.
Angry mobs also beat with clubs the effigy of Sherry Rehman, main campaigner for changing the blasphemy law.
Chief of Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam (F), Fazl-ur-Rehman, said: "If you cannot tolerate the sanctity of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), then we [Muslims] cannot tolerate the blasphemy".
Slamming the present government largely led by PPP, he said, it had been its keen desire to change the blasphemy law under the US pressure, warning that any steps in this regard would cost the rulers dearly.
He also criticised various NGOs campaigning against the blasphemy law, saying: "I challenge them wherever they want to hold a contest and then leave the decision on the nation".
He held Salman Taseer and PPP government responsible for his assassination, saying that the incident would have never occurred if the government had brought him to justice after he publicly dubbed the law as "black law".
He announced to provide all legal assistance to Mumtaz Qadri and urged the government to release his family and stop harassing them.
He warned the government to stop illegal tactics against the clerics and religious schools on the pretext of investigation into Salman Taseer's killing.
"If the government can take back increase in POL prices and take back RGST bill then it should also renounce its stance of changing the blasphemy law and take back a private bill in this regard in the assembly," Fazl said.
Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, Munawar Hassan said protecting Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) sanctity was Muslim's belief and change in blasphemy law would be resisted.
Urging the head of PML-N, Nawaz Sharif, and Chief of MQM Altaf Hussian to support the blasphemy law, he said, "Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani should announce the government's policy statement that no changes in the blasphemy law would be made".
He said the government should immediately take back the private bill submitted for changing the blasphemy law.
He said: "No one regrets whatever happen with Salman Taseer, and nor it is a matter of remorse".
He warned the government to stop acting on US dictations and should honour the nation's sentiments.
JUI-F leader Hussain Ahmed demanded abrogation of article 248 in the Constitution and clipping of President's powers of reverting death sentence.
"Punishment to blasphemy perpetrators is no less than death and anyone intends to change blasphemy law should also meet the same fate", he warned.
He said the last battle for defending the law would be staged in Islamabad if the government did not refrain from changing it.
Chief of Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Abul Khair Zubair accused the government of disturbing the very march by creating law and order situation in Karachi just one day earlier.
He vowed the nation and religious parties would defend the blasphemy law, saying the assassinated Governor of Punjab had chosen the path of lawlessness.
He warned the government if it did not refrain of fuelling the sensitive religious issue, people like Mumtaz Qadri would continue to take law into their hands.
Leader of JUI-F Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said the nation was united to defend the blasphemy law and was ready to pay sacrifices in this regard.
Jaffer Subhani warned the government of changing the blasphemy law, saying: "In this country only Allah and his Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) laws will be implemented".
He said if the government had implemnted the laws properly and did not exceed the limits, the killing of Salman Taseer would have never occurred.
He also chanted anti-US slogans and demanded full stoppage of drone attacks on the country's northern borders.
Leader of Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadeth Muhammad Yousuf Qasuri condemned the government's move of changing the blasphemy law.
Leader of JUI (S) Asad Thanwi paid tribute to Mumtaz Qadri and warned the government of nation-wide protest and anger if it tried to change the blasphemy law.
Leader of Aalemi Majlis Khatm-e-Naboowat, Allah Wasaya, vice Chief of JI, Liaquat Baloch, General Secretary of Wafaq-ul-Madaris, Muhammad Hanif Jalendhri and General Secretary of PML-Q Sindh, Haleem Adil Shaikh also spoke on the occasion.
Speakers also announced the next rally in this connection would be held on January 30 in Lahore. Such rallies would also be organised in Peshawar, Quetta and in Islamabad.
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