Pak rejects demand for repeal of blasphemy law

"In this case it is regretted that the deceased bishop, instead of following the course of law, decided to act otherwise," the message said. "We hope it will not harm the ideal friendly relations between Christians and Muslims."

"If the law is repealed, ultimately the people will take the law into their hands," Minister for Minorities and Religious Affairs Raja Zafrul Haq said. The impression that the law is targeted against any particularreligion is wrong, Haq told BBC, adding the language of the law was, "Whosoever humiliates the founder or revered personalities of a religion either by words or in any other way is liable to be punished". His statement came amidst reports that another Christian has been arrested under the controversial law in Faisalabad city.

Peter Jacob, the executive secretary of the National Commission for Justice and Peace told PTI over phone from Faisalabad that a Christian youth Ranjha Masih had been arrested by police yesterday and a case registered under blasphemy law against him.

The death sentence to Iqbal Masih has evoked widespread protest among members of the Christian community in and outside the country, and the United States yesterday asked Pakistan to repeal the controversial law saying it contributed to a climate of religious intolerance. Meanwhile, tension ran high over the bishop’s death and the death sentence to Masih, with Christians holding protest meetings in Faisalabad and many other cities.