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US asks Pak to repeal 'intolerant' blasphemy law

The Clinton administration has asked the Pakistan government to repeal its controversial blasphemy law which, it says, contributes to a climate of religious intolerance in the country.

''In the past, we have repeatedly called upon the government of Pakistan to repeal the blasphemy law. We take this opportunity to do so once again,'' State Department spokesman James Foley said in Washington on Thursday, while commenting on the suicide of Roman Catholic bishop John Joseph in Faisalabad on Wednesday.

The bishop, a prominent human rights campaigner, killed himself to protest against the death sentence on a Christian, Ayub Masih, for blaspheming Islam, according to reports.

Bishop John Joseph, chairman of a human rights commission established by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Pakistan, shot himself in the head in the courthouse where Ayub Masih was convicted and sentenced to death on April 27.

Foley said, ''We very much regret the needless death of Bishop Joseph. We have only received preliminary reports of his death from our consulate in Lahore and we are seeking more information.''

Foley said Bishop Joseph had in recent days spoken publicly against Pakistan's blasphemy law and against the death sentence imposed on Ayub Masih, under that law. ''We deplore and condemn the imposition of a sentence of death on an individual for the peaceful expression of his belief."

Before resorting to the extreme step, according to reports, Dr Joseph wrote a letter to The Dawn, an English daily in Pakistan, urging his fellow bishops, NGOs, parliamentarians, Muslims, Christians, Hindus and all sections of society to act strongly and in unity, not only to get Masih's death sentence suspended but to get the controversial provisions of the law scrapped.

Pakistan has two million Christians, half of them Catholics, in its largely Muslim population of 140 million. Several Christians have been sentenced to death, but the convictions were overturned on appeal.

Dr Joseph had a doctorate in theology. He played a vital role in the development of about 60 colonies for the Christian community in Faisalabad and Sargodha divisions. He was also instrumental in the establishment of about 30 schools and over 100 technical centres.

UNI

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