Blasphemy law: religious parties to stage show of strength on January 30

The religious parties of the country will stage a show of strength in support of the Blasphemy Law in the Punjab capital on January 30 while the Jamaat-i-Islami will host an All Parties Conference on the issue on January 29 at Mansoora, the JI chief, Syed Munawar Hasan, said here on Saturday. He was addressing the opening session of the JI Shoora meeting.
Syed Munawar Hasan said it was tragic that over a dozen people were falling victim to target killing in Karachi where the killers were on rampage and the government was no where to be seen. In stead of providing protection to the citizens, two ruling parties of Sindh were putting the blame on each other.
The JI chief termed complete failure of the country's foreign policy as the core issue at the moment. He said the Chinese Prime Minister's visit and his address to the parliament were most important events as China could play an important role in banishing US interference in the region. However, instead of availing this opportunity, the Pakistani rulers were protecting US interests and following its priorities, he added.
Syed Munawar Hasan said the US was fully supporting India in the region. Pakistan's economy had been completely ruined due to the so-called US war on terror. The burden of loans was increasing and the country was once again under IMF stranglehold. He said, Washington was openly interfering in our economic and political affairs. China's constant offer in respect of mega projects was reassuring and its open support for the Kashmiris was an issue that should be highlighted.
He said that corruption had crept into the whole society and it was an irony that a party that had been supporting a corrupt government for the last three years, was now talking of corruption. This was the best opportunity for the PML(N) to protest over the appointment of a man twice dismissed on corruption charges as Governor, but the Punjab Chief Minister welcomed this appointment. On one hand, the PML(N) was demanding kicking out corrupt ministers while on the other hand, it had meekly accepted a corrupt Governor. This showed clear contradictions in its policy, he said.