More than 100,000 people rallied in Karachi on Sunday against proposed amendments in blasphemy laws.The massive rally, organized by religious parties, was addressed by Jamat-ud-dawa Molana Ameer Hamza, Jamat-e-Islami chief Syed Munawar Hasan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan’s Sahibzada Abul Khair Zubair, JI Karachi amir Muhammad Hussain Mehnati and others.Describing the proposed amendments in blasphemy law as foreign agenda, Syed Munawar Hasan said the government’s move would be resisted at each forum.He said the movement to protect the law was completely peaceful.
Maulana Fazlur Rehaman, while addressing the public gathering at Tibet Center, said “evil forces want their agenda implemented in Pakistan to violate the blasphemy of Prophet (P.B.U.H)”.
Banners at the event included some supporting slain Salman Taseer’s presumed killer, police commando Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, who has been praised by religious leaders.
“Mumtaz Qadri is not a murderer, he is a hero,” said one banner.
“We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the dignity of the Prophet Mohammad,” read another.
Activists at the rally, which has been organised by conservative religious groups, called for “Jihad” or holy war.
According Two senior police officers in Karachi said more than 20,000 protesters had joined the rally and more were arriving, while senior police official Irshad Sehar told AFP that more than 30,000 people were taking part.
Source: KarachiUpdates.com