http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\10\02\story_2-10-2009_pg1_1
Friday, October 02, 2009 Blasphemy laws won't be misused, Pope assured * Vatican expresses concern over plight of minorities in Pakistan * Pope urges Pakistan to protect its Christians ROME: Pope Benedict urged Pakistan on Thursday to guarantee protection of minority Christians, and President Asif Ali Zardari assured him that all stakeholders and political forces would be consulted to check and stop the misuse of blasphemy laws. Zardari met the Pope at his residence south of Rome at the end of a four-day trip to Italy aimed mainly at promoting trade. A Vatican statement said Zardari's talks with the Pope and Vatican officials centred on minority Christians in Pakistan following violence against their communities two months ago. "Emphasis was given to the need to overcome all forms of discrimination based on religious affiliation, with the aim of promoting respect for the rights of all citizens," it said. Seven people - including four women and a child - were killed in violence that broke out in Gojra in August. The Christians' homes were burnt after unsubstantiated accusations that some of them had desecrated the holy Quran. Some 40 houses were burned down in the violence, which was condemned at the time by the Vatican, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the World Council of Churches. The Vatican statement said the talks also focused on "elements that have favoured such incidents", an apparent reference to groups that have exploited Pakistan's blasphemy law, which allows the death penalty for blaspheming Islam. Pakistani government officials said at the time that the violence was the work of groups linked to Al Qaeda and the Taliban. The Vatican said the talks with Zardari examined "the situation in Pakistan, with particular reference to terrorism and the commitment to create a society more tolerant and harmonious in all its aspects". The president said the government was committed to promoting interfaith harmony and tolerance, and that was why it had pioneered a resolution in the UN calling for interfaith harmony. F Federal Minister for Minorities Shehbaz Bhatti - who also attended the meeting - said that Pope Benedict also praised the steps taken by the government for the protection of minorities' rights and promotion of interfaith harmony. He said the pope had been told that the government also had plans to set up a federal interfaith complex, in addition to interfaith harmony committees in all districts of the country, which would have representation from members of all minorities. Non-Muslims make up less than 5 percent of Pakistan's 175 million people. agencies [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
