ISLAMABAD: Former information minister and Pakistan People's Party MNA Sherry Rehman said in a statement issued here on Wednesday that she would abide by the party policy and directives of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and would not pursue her private member bill seeking some procedural changes in the blasphemy law. However, Ms Rehman contradicted the prime minister's reported claim that she had been consulted by him on the issue of withdrawal of the bill.

“But since the prime minister has apparently decided that there cannot be discussion on procedural amendments, and the committee announced by the party to amend laws has been disbanded, then as a PPP MNA I have to abide by the party leader's decision after he has spoken so definitively,” the statement said.

“There was never any question of withdrawing the bill as the National Assembly had never admitted it on the agenda. Had it appeared on the agenda perhaps some of our colleagues would have understood that it was not suggesting repeal of the law, but protecting our great Prophet's ( PBUH) name against injustices done via procedures introduced by Ziaul Haq. No Muslim would expect not to protect the Prophet's (PBUH) name,” she said.

Ms Rehman said that the procedural changes she had suggested through the bill were simple and “unnecesarily politicised”. She said that she had suggested that “innocent people be given a chance to prove their innocence, like in all laws, and that cases be tried in higher courts, that penalties be given according to the holy Quran and that no-one who makes false charges in the name of a Prophet (PBUH) who swore always to defend the innocent and the vulnerable go unpunished”. —Staff Reporter