Jamait Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F)'s Secretary General Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haidri Thursday vowed that his party would strongly resist any move to amend the blasphemy laws.
Speaking at a news conference here, the JUI-F's leader urged the masses, particularly the trade community to cooperate for holding successful countrywide strike today (Friday) and also appealed the entire nation to observe strike to give strong message to the rulers that they will not tolerate any amendment in the blasphemy laws.
He said that though Minister for Labour and Manpower Syed Khursheed Shah who also have additional charge of Ministry of Religious Affairs had given an assurance that the law will neither be repealed nor amended, he added that they don't satisfy until an explanation came from the President or Prime Minister.
The JUI-F leader regretted that so far no action has been taken against Governor Punjab Salman Tasir for terming the laws, as "black-laws" and PPP's MNA Sherry Rehman for submitting a bill that seeks amendment in the blasphemy laws. He rejected the impression that it was a biased laws, saying that according to the cases reported under the laws, 480 were Muslims, 349 Ahmedis, 119 Christians and 14 Hindus.
He further said that Asia Bibi should prove herself in the court of law if she considered herself as innocent, adding that there was no authority including the President and Prime Minister to pardon victim of the blasphemy law. Haidri said that the JUI-F would also hold a huge rally in Karachi on January 02 against the move to amend the blasphemy laws, adding that Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) has also assured their support in this regard.
Similarly, he added that All Parties Conference (APC) would also be held in Karachi on January 09 under the title "Tahafooz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat". He said that all the political parties except PPP, MQM and ANP have been extended invitations to attend the conference.
To a question regarding revival of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), Haidri said that unification of all religious parties under one umbrella was need of the hour. He, however, said that it needs time to shun the differences and restore the confidence in each other.