Christians in Pakistan have long been demanding the repeal of a draconian law that their government has used against Christians and other minorties from time to time. Given below is a letter written by Christian representatives to Nafisa Shah Sahiba, Member of Standing Committee on Minorities.

Dear Nafisa Shah Sahiba, Thanks for your great efforts to work for minorities issues. Some friends involved in Gojra work have told me about your visit and your activism to speak and taking actions to support the victims.

I want to take the opportunity to remind you that Human Rights Organizations national and international, Minorities leadership, civil society organizations and many other groups have been demanding “Total Repeal of Blasphemy Law” No changes in it.

You know very well Shaheed Bishop John Joseph shot him self to death against this law. One of the pioneers of movement against Blasphemy law Father Bonnie Mendes ruled out any changes in the law rather demanded total repeal, when Iqbal Hyder was the Federal Minister for law. (Meeting in law ministry)

PPP’s alliance partner All Pakistan Minorities Alliance chief Shahbaz Bhatti has been repeatedly retreated in public meetings that APMA wants Total Repeal of the law and will not compromise over the issue.

The recent discussions on SPN and other local and national forum are demanding “Total Repeal of Blasphemy Law” I come across some emails in which Sheema Kirmani and other national forums calling it “Draconian Law”

Women’s Action Forum has asked the civil society to speed up the movement to repeal the law. Baazghshat, a Pakistani network against Christian persecution has launched signature campaign to repeal the law on July 16, 2009 . They have been struggling to collect one million signatures by the end of this year. National Commission on Justice and Peace (Catholic Bishop’s Conference, Pak) has also launched countrywide movement against the law. Society for Human Development has been working against these laws for last two decades.

Nafisa Ji, add all these movements and peoples struggle to repeal Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan. I know you are well aware of these movements in Pakistan and international voices against the law.