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, interior minister Rahman Malik said on Friday.
Malik told Reuters in an interview party leaders would meet to try to reach a consensus on the law, as proposed by Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, head of the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F).
"Its misuse is being, of course, taken into account and the party leaders are going to sit together as proposed by Maulana Fazl-ur-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.
"A GREAT FRIEND"
Asked whether this meant the PPP had resolved its differences with Maulana Fazlur Rahman, 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."
Clarifying the comment that Malik made following the killing of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, Malik said, "Nobody would like to show disrespect to our Prophet. I said the bullet of law should be utilised for such actions. I was misinterpreted in that particular statement."
He said the government condemned the assassination of the two men - Salmaan and Bhatti. "Nobody has the right to take anybody's life."
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 United States.
"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.
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