A complete shutter-down strike was observed across the country on Friday as religious parties held rallies and protests against any alleged move by the government to amend the blasphemy law.
All major business centres, markets and bazaars remained closed throughout the day, while there was thin traffic on roads in all the major cities of the country. The Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat gave a strike call on Thursday.
It was supported by the traders community and transporters. Strict security measures were adopted in all the major cities to avoid any unpleasant event. [The News International] Read more [via Religious Watch]
Pakistan Will Not Repeal Its Blasphemy Law .... It may be true -- may be -- that Pakistan has not officially put anyone to death for blasphemy. But quite a few people who were charged by others with the crime of blasphemy -- outrage against some aspect of Islam -- have been put to death, in some cases by members of the police who had them in their custody, in other cases by those who, as they are permitted, meted out Islamic justice without waiting for the government to do so.
And as long as that law remains valid, there will be those will, with impunity and a sense of immunity, take that law into their own hands. [The Iconoclast] Read more
