By IANS,
New Delhi: Treading a cautious line on the controversial laws that make blasphemy a capital crime in Pakistan, Asfandyar Wali Khan, a top leader of the ruling coalition in that country, Thursday said his party wanted the legislation to be revisited.
Asked about his views on the law that has often been used to persecute religious minorities or settle personal scores in Pakistan, Khan said: “I am proud to be part of not only a liberal political party (the Awami National Party) but also which is democratic and secular.”
When a reporter at a press conference persisted with a question on if he opposed the law, the politician, who is also a member of the National Assembly, replied: “No law is good or bad in itself. We want to revisit it.”
Any idea for reforms in the anti-blasphemy law is considered by Pakistan’s violent fundamentalists as anti-Muslim. The reform calls have already led to the killings of governor of Punjab Salman Taseer and minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti, the sole Christian in the Pakistani government. Both were vocal advocates of amending the laws that have raised questions about tolerance among Pakistanis.