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Govt may re-visit blasphemy law to prevent misuse

* State minister for interior says government has raised job quota, number of seats in national, provincial assemblies for minorities

LONDON: The government may review the blasphemy law to prevent its abuse following the recent violence against the Christian community in Gojra.

"After the completion of an inquiry report into the incident and subject to its recommendations, the government will take appropriate measures to prevent future flare-ups of communal carnage," State Minister for Interior Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi said on Wednesday.

Condemning the Gojra incident, he said the Pakistan People’s Party had always worked for the welfare of minorities.

Quotas: He said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had recently announced enhancing the quota in government departments jobs for minorities, planned to increase the number of minority seats in the national and provincial assemblies, declared August 11 “Minority Day” and decided to allocate minorities’ seats in the Senate for the first time in the country’s history.

Qureshi said the government was investigating the violence in Gojra in a transparent manner, including the possible role of banned religious organisations in rioting.

Calling the Swat military operation a success, he said the country had been able to overcome extremism and terrorism.

He said his visits to Norway, France and the United Kingdom helped him gain first-hand knowledge of the problems being faced by overseas Pakistanis.

Qureshi reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening democracy.

The minister urged expatriate Pakistanis to work together to improve the image of the country. app

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